HINTS  AND  HELPS 


TO 


HORSEMEN 


A  HANDY  MANUAL  FOR 


HORSEKEEPERS; 


WITH   TEE   RACING   AND   BETTING   RULES    OF    THE   AMERICAN 
JOCKEY   CLUB. 


By  "SPERRY. 


NEW  YORK : 

ALBERT  COGSWELL,  PLT3LISHER, 

No.  139  EiGUTn  Street. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  In  the  year  1877,  by 

ALBERT  COGSWELL, 
in  tlie  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


rNTEODUCTIOK 


A  great  many  years  have  passed  since  a  work  on  the  horse  has 
been  published,  and  during  those  intervening  years,  a  complete  rev- 
olution has  taken  place  in  the  training  and  treatment  of  the  noble 
animal.  It  is  the  intention  of  the  author  to  present,  in  as  concise 
form  as  possible,  and  with  words  so  plain,  that  everybody  who 
speaks  the  English  language  can  readily  understand  it,  all  the 
modern  improvements  in  the  breeding,  training,  and  remedies  for 
the  different  complaints  that  the  horse  is  heir  to,  will  be  given 
under  th^ir  proper  heads,  in  such  a  way  that  there  can  be  no  mis- 
take made. 

In  presenting  this  little  volume  to  the  public,  we  desire  to  state 
that,  while  it  is  not  as  comprehensive  in  space  as  some  earlier  books 
on  the  same  subject,  it  will  contain  nothing  but  facts  that  can  be 
relied  on,  and  with  this  idea  we  launch  it  forth ;  hoping  that  every 
farmer  and  lover  of  horses  in  our  broad  country  will  become  inter- 
ested in  and  commend  it. 


.       CONTENTS. 

"                                                                                     PAQB. 
CHAPTER  FIRST. 
The  Breeding  op  Horses  and  the  Choice  of  Sire 5 

CHAPTER  SECOND. 
The  Choice  of  Mares  in  Breeding 9 

CHAPTER  THIRD. 
The  Proper  Age  to  Breed  from U 

CHAPTER  FOURTH. 
The  Proper  Way  to  Breed 16 

CHAPTER  FIFTH. 
Canadian  Norman  Blood 20 

CHAPTER  SIXTH. 
Arabian  Blood  too  much  Puffed  up 24 

CHAPTER  SEVENTH. 
About  Ponies 25 

CHAPTER  EIGHTH. 
HiNNiES  AND  Mules 29 

CHAPTER  NINTH. 
Points  in  Horse  Buying 33 

CHAPTER  TENTH. 
Hints  IN  Regard  to  the  Legs  and  Feet 3T 

CHAPTER  ELEVENTH. 
The  Proper  Way  to  Feed  a  Horse 41 

CHAPTER  TWELFTH. 
The  Stable  and  its  Attendants 46 

CHAPTER  THIRTEENTH. 
The  Proper  Way  to  Break  a  Horse 49 

CHAPTER  FOURTEENTH. 
Simple  Diseases  CuiiED  by  Simple  Means 54 

CHAPTER  FIFTEENTH. 

HOMffiPATHY  FOR  THE    HORSE 61 

CHAPTER  SIXTEENTH. 
What  Veterinary  Surgeons  do 76 

CHAPTER  SEVENTEENTH. 
The  Propbr  way  to  Shoe  a  Horse 80 

CHAPTER  EIGHTEENTH. 
Racing  Rules 82 

CHAPTER  NINETEENTH. 
Betting  Rules 108 


HINTS  AND  HELPS  TO  HORSEMEN. 


CHAPTER  FIRST. 

THE  BREEDING  OF  HORSES  AND  CHOICE  OF  SIRES. 

There  is  no  country  in  the  world  where  the  horse  is  more  valua- 
ble than  in  the  United  States  ;  and  he  adds  to  the  national  wealth 
in  no  small  degree.  Among  farmers,  the  desire  to  raise  good  stock 
is  increasing  wonderfully;  and  among  persons  of  leisure  and 
wealth,  the  desire  to  own  fast  and  valuable  horses  is  indeed  great. 
The  profit  to  be  derived  from  the  raising  of  good  horses  is  immense, 
and  the  number  of  people  who  have  made  fortunes  in  the  business 
attest  that  fact  ;  but  at  the  same  time,  there  have  been  many  who 
have  become  bankrupt,  and  all  because  their  knowledge  was 
limited.  It  is  cheaper  in  the  end  to  keep  a  good  horse  than  it  is 
to  keep  a  bad  one ;  and  this  fact  is  becoming  perceptible  to  all 
lovers  of  the  noble  animal,  for  the  feed  costs  the  same ;  the  stable 
room  is  no  smaller,  and  the  useful  animal  will  last  a  great  deal 
longer  than  the  poor,  broken-down  jade. 

In  fact,  a  horse  four  years  old,  bought  at  three  or  four  hundred 
dollars  will,  when  he  has  attained  his  maturity,  be  worth  twice  the 
money,  either  for  sale  or  work  ;  while  one  bought  for  a  third  that 
price  will  be  completely  worn  out  and  unfit  for  anything ;  and  the 
better  the  horse  is  in  the  first  instance,  the  more  rapid  will  be  the 
increase  in  his  value. 


6  HINTS   AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

What  is  it  that  constitutes  value  in  every  horse  ?  It  is  quickness 
of  action,  power  to  carry  weight,  and  endurance:  having  bottom 
enough  to  travel  a  long  distance  at  the  same  gait,  and  be  able  to 
work  year  in  and  year  out,  with  the  same  strength  and  vigor.  And 
it  is  unnecessary  to  say,  that  all  this  cannot  be  done,  unless  the  ani- 
mal has  the  highest  breeding  and  higher  degree  of  health.  In  for- 
mer days,  it  was  the  fashion  to  underrate  the  value  of  speed,  and  to 
laugh  at  the  advantage  of  blood;  but  all  this  has  materially 
changed,  and  the  owner  of  every  horse  in  these  days  knows  that 
^'blood  will  tell." 

The  horse  that  can  do  twice  as  much  work  as  another,  and  that 
can  travel  twice  the  distance  in  the  same  time,  is  certainly  worth 
twice  as  much  to  his  owner,  as  the  other  one. 

The  question  now  is  :  How  is  this  result  to  be  reached  ?  By  getting 
the  greatest  amount  of  pure  blood  into  the  animal  bred,  consistent 
with  his  size  and  power,  and  the  purpose  he  is  intended  to  be  used 
for.  Speed  alone  is  not  the  only  good  thing  to  be  derived  from 
blood,  for  blooded  horses  possess  double  the  endurance,  and  spirit 
of  resistance,  that  the  cart  horse  does  in  his  coldness  of  blood. 
Beyond  this,  the  internal  construction  of  his  respiratory  organs 
and  of  his  general  constitution,  is  enough  to  give  him  greater  phys- 
ical power  in  proportion  to  his  size,  than  any  other  animal ;  add- 
ing to  a  greater  courage,  endurance,  suffering,  and  fleetness  of 
movement. 

It  is  not  to  be  said,  however,  that  all  blooded  horses  are  alike  in 
these  qualities,  for  there  is  more  judgment  to  be  used  in  the  choice 
of  blooded  hor&es,  than  in  any  other  of  the  species.  In  the  blood 
of  the  thoroughbred,  all  diseases,  faults  and  vices  come  from  their 
originators,  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  all  his  good  qualities ; 
but  in  selecting  a  thoroughbred,  his  record  and  that  of  his  ances- 
tors should  be  inquired  into. 

Those  who  breed  from  a  short  horse,  in  hopes  of  getting  a  large 
colt,  will  find  out  their  mistake  when  it  is  too  late ;  and  so  it  will  be 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HOESEMEN.  7 

with  those  who  expect  to  get  perfection  out  of  a  spavined,  ring- 
boned,  or  a  dunghill  of  a  horse.  The  blood  should  always  be  on 
the  side  of  the  sire,  and  for  farmers'  breeding  purposes,  the  sire 
should  be  of  medium  height,  short  backed,  well  ribbed  up,  short  in 
the  saddle  place,  long  below.  He  should  have  a  broad  chest,  broad 
loins,  straight  rump,  and  high  withers ;  a  lean,  bony,  well-set  head ; 
a  clear,  bright  and  well  placed  eye  ;  small  ears  and  broad  nostrils. 
His  fore  legs  should  be  as  long  as  possible  above  the  knee,  and  his 
hind  legs  above  the  hock,  and  as  lean,  short  and  bony  as  can  be 
below  those  joints.  The  sinews  should  be  clear,  straight,  firm  and 
hard  to  the  touch.  From  such  a  horse  and  a  well-chosen  roomy 
mare,  he  can  be  certain  of  owning  a  fine  colt. 

The  point  to  be  looked  after  is,  combination  of  speed  in  connec- 
tion with  strength,  and,  at  the  same  time,  to  look  out  for  disease  or 
deformity  in  either  of  the  parents.  The  first  point  will  be  reached 
by  breeding  to  pure  blood,  and  by  breeding  to  what  is  called  up,  not 
down ;  that  is,  by  breeding  the  dam  to  a  sire  of  superior  blood  ;  ex- 
cept when  it  is  desired  to  breed  in  and  in,  for  the  purpose  of  get- 
ting a  pure  strain,  which  may  be  serviceable  in  the  get  of  brood 
mares. 

A  half-bred  mare  should  never  be  put  to  a  half-bred  stallion,  as 
in  that  case,  the  produce  will  degenerate  below  the  dam.  Whereas, 
the  get  of  a  thoroughbred  will  be  superior,  and  will  continue  to 
improve,  if  the  same  process  of  breeding  up  is  carried  out. 

All  diseases  of  the  lungs  and  windpipe,  commonly  called  the 
heaves,  such  as  broken  wind,  roaring,  whistling,  thick  wind 
and  such  like,  are  transmitted  from  the  parents.  Blindness  is 
more  so,  and  when  one  eye  is  destroyed  by  accident,  and  the  other 
through  sympathy  should  follow  it,  then  it  is  not  safe  to  breed 
from  a  horse  so  injured.  Lameness  arising  from  accident,  is  not 
transmissible  ;  but  when  a  horse  has  broken  down  in  running,  it 
will  be  best  to  observe  whether  there  is  not  some  defect  of  the  con- 
formation of  the  sinews  tending  to  weakness,  such  as  an  improper 


8  HINTS    AND    HELPS   TO    HORSEMEN. 

contraction  of  the  volume  of  the  leg,  below  the  fore  knee,  and 
showing  an  insufficiency  of  the  splint  bone.  These  malforma- 
tions will  become  hereditary.  If  a  horse  should  break  down  in  his 
fore  legs,  the  breaking  down  itself  may  be  said  to  have  been  here- 
ditary ;  and  no  one  should  think  of  breeding  from  such  a  horse. 

The  following  rules  may  be  adopted : 

First.  There  is  economy  in  buying  and  owning  horses  of  value. 

Second.  The  more  blood  the  better ;  for  the  high  bred  animal 
has  greater  health,  strength  and  quickness,  and  vigor  of  constitu- 
tion, as  well  as  gameness. 

Third.  The  blood  should  always  be  on  the  side  of  the  male ; 
and  that  means,  that  the  stallion  should  be  of  purer  blood  than  the 
mare. 

Fourth.  Never  choose  a  stallion  that  is  not  well  ribbed,  short 
backed,  long  below,  and  short  in  the  saddle  place,  with  the  withers 
high,  chest  broad,  a  well  set  head,  a  bright  eye,  small  ears,  and 
broad  loins.  His  hind  legs  above  the  hock  and  fore  legs  above  the 
knee,  should  be  long  and  muscular,  and  below  these  joints,  short 
and  bony.  The  bones  of  the  legs  should  be  large,  flat,  and  free 
from  excrsscences— the  sinews  straight,  clear,  and  hard  to  the 
touch. 


CHAPTER  SECOND. 

THE  CHOICE  OF  MARE  IN  BREEDING. 

This  is  a  subject  that  will  bear  careful  consideration,  as  good 
judgment  must  be  exercised  in  picking  out  the  mare  from  which 
to  breed ;  as  in  a  great  measure  the  health  of  the  foal  depends 
altogether  on  that  of  the  dam.  Like  produces  like,  and  the  best 
rule  to  follow  is,  blood  from  the  sire,  and  beauty  from  the  dam. 
Medium  sized  m^es  have  a  stronger  constitution  than  very  large 
ones,  and  on  that  account,  they  are  the  best  to  breed  from.  "The 
greatest  blessing  in  life  is  an  intelligent  wife  or  a  mare  that  pro- 
duces foals."  So  spoke  the  prophet  Mahomet,  and  in  this  speech 
there  is  a  deal  of  wisdom  ;  for  a  mare  that  brings  forth  foals,  adds 
wealth  to  her  owner;  and  she  must  not  only  be  intelligent,  but 
also  be  possessed  of  a  good  temper,  good  health,  and  plenty  of 
room.  The  mare  should  be  so  formed  in  frame  as  to  be  well  able 
to  carry  her  offspring,  and  capable  of  nourishing  it  afterwards. 
A  mare  with  a  level,  straight  hip,  in  which  the  tail  is  set  on  very 
high,  should  never  be  selected  for  breeding  purposes  ;  but  on  the 
contrary,  a  mare,  whose  haunch  bone  forms  an  angle  with  the 
sacrum,  is  the  one  to  pick  from,  because  such  a  mare  has  room 
enough  to  allow  the  foal  to  pass  out,  and  into  the  world.  These 
points  are  very  important,  for  if  the  foal  is  injured  in  the  birth, 
it  will  never  recover  its  powers,  and  will  always  remain  injured. 
The  pelvis  should  be  deep  and  wide,  and  there  should  be  more 

than  the  average  length  from  hip  to  shoulder,  so  as  to  give  plenty 

1* 


10  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HOESEMEN. 

of  room  for  the  foal.  Beyond  this  roomy  frame,  the  mare  only 
requires  such  a  shape  and  make  as  is  adapted  for  the  purpose  in- 
tended, to  wit :  producing  colts  of  the  form  and  style  she  is  in- 
tended to  produce.  To  all  this,  she  must  have  four  solid  legs, 
well  shaped,  large  feet,  and  by  no  means  flat  soled.  She  should 
have  a  lean,  bony  head,  small  ears,  broad  face,  well  carried  neck, 
high  withers,  and  above  all,  long  sloping  shoulders.  There  is 
nothing  more  horrid  than  a  straight  shoulder,  for  it  makes  speed 
impossible,  and  gives  a  motion  that  often  produces  stumbling. 

She  should  have  a  wide  chest,  and  be  very  deep  in  the  location  of 
the  heart.  She  should  be  very  strong  in  her  quarters,  well  let 
down,  and  sickle  shaped  above  the  hocks.  If  her  hocks  are  wide . 
apart,  so  much  the  better,  for  it  indicates  power.  It  has  already 
been  shown,  that  a  brood  mare  should  be  considerably  longer  in 
the  back,  than  one  would  choose  a  working  horse  to  be ;  and  if 
jphe  is  particularly  so,  then  put  her  to  a  shorf-backed  and  close 
coupled  horse. 

The  brood  mare  should  be  as  near  perfect  as  the  artificial  state 
of  the  animal  will  allow  ;  and  in  every  case,  the  mare  should  be  ex- 
amined carefully  to  discover  what  she  has  inherited  from  her 
ancestors.  Barring  accidents,  all  deviation  from  a  state  of  health 
in  the  mare  may  be  looked  upon  as  transmitted  to  her  ;  because,  in 
a  good  constitution,  no  treatment,  such  as  training,  will  produce 
disease  ;  and  the  appearance  of  any  disease,  under  this  process,  will 
show  clearly  that  it  is  acquired  and  handed  down  from  her  parents. 
Still  there  are  diseases  which  should  be  excepted,  or  rejected  ac- 
cordingly. Broken  knees,  dislocated  hips,  and  all  such  caused  by 
accident  may  be  overlooked;  but  spavins,  ringbones,  splints, 
and  all  bony  enlargements,  are  defects  transmitted,  and  will  be 
sure  to  be  perpetuated.  Curby  hocks  are  hereditary,  and  ought  to 
be  avoided.  Bad  feet  should  be  avoided,  unless  when  caused  by 
bad  shoeing  ;   and  in  the  latter  case,  it  can  be  looked  over. 

Mares  with  broken  wind  rarely  breed,  and  of  course  are  out  of 


HINTS   AND    HELPS    TO    HOBSEMEN.  11 

question,  as  no  one  would  risk  the  recurrence,  even  if  such  a  mare . 
could  get  in  foal. 

Bhndness  may  or  may  not  be  hereditary ;  but  in  every  case  it 
should  be  looked  on  with  suspicion.  Cataract  without  inflanmiation 
runs  in  families  without  a  shadow  of  doubt,  and  when  a  mare  has 
both  eyes  suffering  with  this  disease,  without  any  other  derange- 
ment, it  is  best  to  let  them  pass.  If  blindness  is  brought  on  by 
cold,  accident,  or  violent  inflammation,  the  eye  is  more  or  less  dis- 
organized and  although  this  is  objectionable,  still  it  is  not  as  bad  as 
regular  cataract. 

Under  no  circumstances  breed  from  a  stallion  which  has  any 
affection  of  the  respiratory  organs,  or  from  one  that  has  any  affec- 
tion of  the  eyes,  unless  it  be  the  result  of  accident,  such  as  a  blow, 
or  puncture  would  produce,— nor  even  then  if  one  eye  sympa- 
thized with  the  other ;  and  on  the  other  hand,  breed  not  from  a  mare 
that  is  affected  either  way. 

Before  sending  the  mare  to  the  horse,  she  should  be  got  in  a  per- 
fect condition,  by  plenty  of  good  nutritious  food,  gentle  exercise, 
and  comfortable  stabling.  She  should  not  be  in  a  pampered  state, 
caused  by  hot  stables  or  heavy  clothing,  but  instead,  her  coat 
should  be  short  and  fine,  and  the  skin  should  be  in  a  glowing  and 
blooming  condition,  just  like  what  we  would  expect  to  see  in  a  race- 
horse just  before  a  race— not  that  she  should  be  in  that  wiry  form 
training  produces.  She  should  not  be  overloaded  with  fat,  especi- 
ally that  kind  of  fat  which  artificial  feeding  produces.  During 
the  first  three  or  four  months  of  her  gestation,  while  carrying  the 
foal,  it  would  be  well  to  let  her  do  her  regular  work ;  but  she 
should  not  be  compelled  to  gallop  long  distances,  or  put  to  any 
sudden  or  extreme  exertion,  such  as  pulling  excessive  loads,  or  in 
any  effort  likely  to  produce  sudden  strains,  which  of  all  things  is 
the  most  likely  to  cause  the  mare  to  slip  her  foal.  As  time  wears 
on,  her  work  should  be  lighter,  and  her  action  slower,  but  at  the 
same  time,  her  exercise  should  be  regular. 


12  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HOBSEMEN. 

If  she  is  allowed  to  run  in  the  grass,  she  should  be  put  in  a  small 
enclosure,  which  will  not  be  large  enough  to  admit  of  her  galloping 
at  racing  speed,  because  she  is  liable  to  fall  in  running,  and  this 
would  produce  disastrous  consequences.  The  enclosures  should 
have  fences  high  enough  to  keep  the  mare  from  thinking  of  climb- 
ing or  breaking  through ;  for  if  the  fences  are  low,  the  mares  will 
be  continually  trying  to  leap  them,  or  force  their  way  through,  and 
then  in  all  likehhood  fatal  accidents  will  occur.  It  would  be  bet- 
ter to  have  the  fences  made  so,  that  at  the  upper  part,  the  work 
would  be  open,  and  then  the  animals  in  adjacent  lots  would  see 
and  communicate  with  one  another  without  being  able  to  reach  each 
other.  When  so  situated,  they  will  be  on  a  constant  trot,  trying  to 
get  together,  and  this  gentle  exercise  will  afford  them  good. 

One  acre  of  ground  is  sufficient  for  such  a  pasture,  and  on  it 
should  be  built  a  substantial  shed  or  hut,  which  will  provide  shade 
in  summer,  and  warmth  in  winter.  The  entrance  should  be  five 
feet  wide  and  eight  feet  high,  the  edges  of  which  ought  to  be 
rounded  off,  so  as  to  keep  the  animal  from  injuring  herself  in  going 
in  or  out.  During  gestation,  the  food  of  the  mare  should  be  gener- 
ous, liberal  and  nutritious,  and  at  the  same  time,  not  heating ;  for 
it  must  be  known  that  the  mare  has,  during  this  time,  to  generate 
blood  to  nom'ish  the  foal  she  is  carrying,  and  to  nourish  herself. 

Large  quantities  of  oats  or  corn  ought  not  to  be  given ;  but  instead, 
clover,  green  corn  cut  young,  and  above  all  things,  carrots  should 
be  given  in  abundance ;  and  bran  mashes,  with  from  four  to  eight 
quarts  of  oats,  can  be  given  with  advantage  daily.  It  is  almost  a 
certainty  that  if  the  mother  is  starved,  or  fed  on  improper  food,  or 
kept  cold,  or  wet,  or  exposed  to  the  weather,  the  foal  will  be  a 
scrawny,  undersized,  poor,  half-starved  looking  wretch,  that  had 
better  never  seen  daylight.  Care  should  be  taken  of  both  after  the 
foal  has  been  dropped,  and  nutritious  food  of  all  descriptions  should 
be  given  with  a  liberal  hand,  and  it  will  pay  to  do  so.  One  thing, 
■which  is  important,  should  be  looked  after  in  selecting  a  mare  for 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  13 

the  Stud,  and  that  is,  the  temper  of  the  animal ;  for  a  vicious  rogue 
should  never  be  the  mother  of  a  colt ;  neither  should  a  mare  be 
used  for  this  purpose,  that  won't  answer  when  called ;  or  one  so 
stubborn  and  contrary,  that  it  is  impossible  to  train  her,  for  such  a 
one  is  even  worse  than  none  at  all.  The  following  rules  will  serve 
every  purpose  in  selecting  a  mare  for  the  stud.  First.  Beauty, 
soundness,  temper  and  size,  are  best  regarded  in  the  mare,  and  blood 
in  the  sire.  Seoond.  Her  frame  should  be  roomy,  with  sloping  hips 
broad  chested,  deeply  girthed,  strong  quarters,  and  well  let  down, 
wide  apart  hocks  and  deep  in  th*  pelvis.  Third.  She  should  be 
courageous  and  free  from  all  viciousncss.  Fourth.  Before  going 
to  the  horse,  her  condition  ought  to  be  perfect  and  not  overloaded 
with  fat.  Fifth.  She  should  be  fed  liberally  with  nourishing  food 
that  will  not  overheat  her,  and  for  the  first  three  or  four  months 
her  work  must  be  moderate,  but  her  exercise  must  be  regular. 


CHAPTER    THIRD. 

THE  PROPER  AGE  TO  BREED  FROM. 

« 

The  general  opinion  among  breeders  of  horses  is,  that  a  mare  must 
be  at  least  three  years  old  before  she  is  put  to  the  stud ;  and  the  horse 
must  be  fully  matured ;  but  nevertheless  have  been  known  to  com- 
mence breeding  when  two  years  old,  but  their  progeny  ne^er  lasted 
any  length  of  time.  An  old  stallion  and  an  old  mare  will  produce 
like  results,  but  an  old  mare  and  a  young  horse  have  been  known 
to  get  the  best  horses  on  the  turf;  as  for  instance,  Nina,  the  pro- 
perty of  Major  Doswell,  of  Virginia,  in  her  twenty-iifth  year  gave 
birth  to  the  celebrated  colt  Algerine,  and  since  then  she  dropped  Al- 
geria, a  full  sister  to  the  aforesaid  horse.  Nina  is  still  living,  and 
in  her  twenty-ninth  year  was  stinted  to  Abdel  Kader.  Then  again, 
Flora  Temple  dropped  a  colt  when  very  old ;  showing  that  the 
mixing  of  young  blood  with  old  will  produce  good  results.  Age  is 
no  bar  to  success,  if  matched  with  youth  on  the  other  side.  When 
a  young  mare  is  chosen,  the  horse  should  not  be  less  than  ten  or 
twelve  years  old ;  but  they  never  should  go  together  when  of  the 
same  age.  It  is  all  a  mistake  to  say  that  the  first  produce  of  a 
mare  is  her  best,  for  there  are  many  instances  to  prove  to  the  con- 
trary. TaKe  Nina  for  example  ;  her  first  colt.  Planet,  was  a  stunner, 
and  her  last  colt  was  a  good  winner,  while  her  filly  is  spoken  of  in 
the  highest  terms.  Crucifix  was  dropped  when  his  dam,  Octaviana, 
was  in  her  twenty-second  year ;  and  the  celebrated  Lottery  first 
saw  the  light  when  her  dam  was  in  her  twentieth  year.     With 


HINTS   AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  15 

these  examples  before  us,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  some  mares  will  breed 
as  long  as  they  live. 

IN  AND  IN  BREEDING. 
What  is  understood  by  this  is,  the  mating  or  pairing  of  relations 
in  blood  within  the  degree  of  second  cousins ;  and  a  great  deal  can 
be  said  both  for  and  againpt  it.  Following  the  law  laid  down  by 
human  nature,  it  seems  unnatural  for  relations  to  become  united,  and 
is  said  that  such  unions  produce  abortion ;  but  then,  again,  in  newly 
settled  countries,  this  in  and  in  breeding-is  carried  on  to  a  great 
extent ;  because  the  settlers  need  stock  and  are  not  very  particular 
about  mixing  the  same  blood  ;  and  horses  in  their  wild  state  are 
known  to  cohabit  with  their  offspring  until  driven  away  by  the 
younger  and  stronger  horses.  The  mustangs  of  Texas  have  not 
changed  in  their  size,  condition  or  appearance;  and  it  is  a  well- 
known  fact  that  they  have  no  respect  for  the  religious  law  of  self- 
denial  when  in.  company  with  their  own  kindred.  When  the  Arab 
was  first  introduced,  and  his  value  as  a  getter  of  race-horses  became 
known,  there  was  no  quibbUng,  but  in  breeding  became  so  very 
close,  that  it  almost  became  incestuous ;  and  it  was  this  kind  of 
breeding  that  gave  us  our  present  race-horse.  So,  in  fact,  although 
forbidden  by  divine  law,  there  is  really  no  harm  in  it ;  but  on  the 
contrary,  a  great  deal  of  good,  providing  the  blood  is  pure. 


CHAPTER  FOURTH. 

THE  PROPER  WAY  TO  CONNECT  SIRE  WITH  DAM, 

The  advantages  to  be  derived  from  breeding  to  pure  blood  on  the 
Bide  of  the  sire,  no  matter  what  the  quality  of  the  dam  is,  has  been  al- 
ready shown ;  and  we  will  now  show  the  improvements  to  be  gain- 
ed in  various  varieties,  and  what  will  produce  this  improvement ; 
for  it  is  dead  certain,  that  the  same  kind  of  horse  will  not 
answer  for  every  mare ;  for  to  produce  an  equality  in  progeny,  it 
will  require  sires  of  very  different  styles,  for  mares  of  difPerent 
styles.  The  object  of  breeding  are  two-fold,  one  of  w^hich,  and 
the  most  common  is,  to  breed  from  cold  blood ;  for  example,  the 
Conestoga  mare,  or  the  large  Vermont  draught  mare,  to  raise  a 
stock  of  horses  from  that  will  stand  fatigue,  be  light  of  action  and 
speedy  of  foot,  by  crossing  that  blood  with  thoroughbreds.  This 
is  the  easiest  thing  accomplished,  for  any  such  horse  will  certainly 
make  an  improvement  in  the  issue  of  the  dam ;  always  providing 
that  both  are  in  a  sound  condition,  and  free  from  all  vice.  The 
progeny  of  such  will,  in  blood,  structure,  form  and  spuit,  be  a  vast 
improvement  on  its  dam,  and  so  much  so,  that  the  old  lady  will 
hardly  know  her  offspring. 

In  the  third  and  fourth  generations,  when  the  blood  has  become 
thoroughly  mixed  and  an  improvement  in  the  stock  is  visible,  it 
will  then  be  the  duty  of  the  breeder  to  look  to  other  families,  and 
other  strains  of  blood  ;  for  it  is  well  known  that  the  more  distant 
the  blood,  the  better  it  will  cross.     It  must  be  always  borne  in 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  17 

mind,  that  the  stallion  should  be  a  thoroughbred  whose  family  is 
noted  for  courage,  and  a  good  stout  frame,  and  that  he  has  no  de- 
fects of  form  which  has  already  been  alluded  to.  It  is  altogether 
wrong  to  put  small  mares  to  large  horses,  or  irmnense  mares  to 
ponies,  for  there  ought  to  be  an  equality  in  size  and  form  ;  or  else 
the  produce  of  an  ill-matched  pair  will  result  in  an  ill-formed  and 
ugly  specimen  of  horseflesh.  A  mare  of  sixteen  hands  high  should 
have  for  a  consort  a  stallion  not  less  than  fifteen  hands  high,  and 
in  proportion  as  they  get  higher.  A  mistake  is  often  made  in  put- 
ting little  mares  to  tall  horses,  or  low  mares  to  a  horse  all  legs,  in 
hopes  of  giving  height  to  the  issue  ;  for  the  way  to  give  size,  is  to 
select  a  horse  of  perfect  form  and  one  not  much  higher  than  the 
dam ;  but  it  will  make  no  difference  if  one  or  the  other  is  an  inch 
or  two  larger,  provided  the  stallion  is  not  too  long  in  the  legs,  and 
more  especially  from  the  knees  down,  and  more  particularly  so  if 
the  marc  is  defective  in  these  points. 

Where  both  are  defective  in  any  one  and  the  same  point,  or  even 
undeveloped  in  that  particular  point,  it  is  the  height  of  folly  to 
couple  them,  in  the  vain  hopes  of  seeing  every  defect  banish  in  the 
offspring.  There  has  always  been  a  difference  of  opinion  in  regard 
to  which  the  progeny  takes  after,  in  color,  health  and  size  ;  one 
authority  saying  that  there  is  no  rule  to  go  by,  and  the  other  assert- 
ing that  while  the  dam  gives  health  and  constitutional  powers,  yet 
the  sire  furnishes  general  character  and  external  appearance.  Now, 
the  better  way  to  look  at  it  is  this  :  Whichever  is  the  best  blooded 
and  nearest  a  thoroughbred,  that  will  be  the  one,  whether  it  is 
father  or  mother  that  the  progeny  will  take  after.  It  has  been 
already  asserted  that  a  blooded  horse  put  to  a  common  mare  im- 
proves the  stock ;  and  the  improvement  comes  from  the  one 
having  the  best  blood  ;  so  it  must  be  again  said,  that  the  progeny 
will  be  nearer  a  true  likeness  of  the  good  blood,  than  of  the  cold, 
poor  blood. 

When  a  mare  is  slightly  defective  in  any  one  point,  it  will  be  best 


18  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

to  select  a  stallion  that  is  excellent  in  that  particular  point ;  and 
when  a  breeder  falls  in  love  with  a  stallion,  on  account  of  his 
beauty,  former  performances,  or  blood,  and  that  horse  is  weak  in 
any  one  or  more  points,  it  will  then  be  best  to  put  him  to  a  mare 
who  is  strong  in  the  points  where  he  is  weak  ;  but  on  no  account 
must  he  be  put  to  a  mare  having  the  same  faults  as  himself. 
Where  mares,  possessing  some  degree  of  pure  blood,  have  degener- 
ated in  size,  strength  and  height,  then  it  is  best  to  breed  them  to 
such  a  horse  as  will  improve  them  in  size  and  bone  without  injur- 
ing the  blood ;  but  first  of  all,  it  must  be  ascertained  in  which  the 
impure  blood  exists ;  and  this  is  a  very  difficult  thing  to  do ;  but, 
should  the  blood  be  cold,  such  as  is  found  in  common  cart  horses, 
then  it  is  of  no  possible  use  to  bother  with  it,  as  the  result  will  not 
pay.  But  if  the  blood  be  pure,  and  the  stock  have  long  been  in 
bred^  then  the  best  possible  way  to  do,  is  to  stint  the  mares,  to  the 
best  thoroughbred  stallion  that  can  be  found ;  but  he  must  be  short 
legged,  wide  chested,  strong  loined,  and  of  a  strain  of  blood  en- 
tirely distinct  from  that  of  the  mare.  The  staUion  should  not 
be  any  taller  than  the  mare,  but  must  be  stronger  and  show  more 
muscular  development.  In  the  second  generation,  the  offspring 
will  be  larger,  in  every  way,  than  their  dams,  and  in  health,  strength 
and  outside  appearance,  there  will  be  a  decided  improvement.  Tliis 
may  be  repeated  by  putting  the  fillies  of  that  dam  to  horses  of  ex- 
actly the  same  kind.  This  in  the  end  will  prove  profitable,  and  is 
what  is  known  as  breeding  up,  and  if  followed  up  as  advised,  at  no 
distant  day  the  breeder  will  have  animals  that  anybody  would  be 
proud  of.  Crossing  and  re-crossing  of  stock  often  produces  won- 
ders, and  when  succesful  for  a  great  many  years  in  any  one  line,  it 
is  called  a  "hit,"  and  does  not  depend  altogether  on  the  advantage 
of  blood,  but  on  something  so  mysterious,  that  no  one  can  find  out. 
There  is  no  possibility  of  prophesying  what  blood  will  or  will  not 
"  hit,"  but  there  are  facts,  connected,  wliich  will  cause  the  breeder 
to  think  and  find  out  the  reason.    The  habits  of  horses,  oxen  and 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  19 

Other  animals  are  well  known  in  their  wild  state,  and  that  they  will 
copulate  with  their  daughtei'S  and  granddaughters  there  is  no 
shadow  of  doubt ;  and  this  in  breeding  has  caused  some  of  the  best 
strain  of  blood  in  America.  Then  when  it  becomes  known  that 
persistent  in  and  in  breeding  has  caused  degeneration,  or  any  other 
evil  results,  the  next  best  thing  to  do  will  be  to  look  afar  off  for  a 
different  strain  of  blood,  which  when  crossed,  will  produce  a  more 
healthy  and  vigorous  offspring. 

The  following  rules  will  simplify  the  grounds  taken  above. 
First.  Mutual  adaption,  between  sire  and  dam,  in  size  and  form,  is 
very  important  and  should  be  adopted.  Second.  Where  one  is  de- 
fective in  any  particular  point,  do  not  breed  to  another  having  the 
same  fault.  TJiird.  Keep  very  small  mares  away  from  very  large 
horses ;  abortions  will  be  the  result  of  such  speculations.  Fourth, 
Where  it  is  known  that  the  blood  of  one  family  of  horses  will  not 
cross  well  with  another,  avoid  it ;  and  let  there  be  no  connection 
between  two  such  horses. 


CHAPTER  FIFTH. 

CANADIAN  NORMAN  BLOOD. 

This  breed  of  horses  are  a  distinct  family,  and  very  valuable  as 
a  working  horse,  and  as  a  sire  or  dam.  Where  fomid  in  a  pure 
state,  and  not  crossed  with  our  American  thoroughbreds,  he  is 
without  a  doubt,  the  French  Norman  horse ;  but  in  their  present 
state,  as  we  have  seen  them  in  Canada,  their  head  is  rather  large, 
but  lean  and  well  formed,  with  broad  forehead,  ears  far  apart,  a 
small  eye  and  full  of  courage ;  a  full  chest  and  a  strong  shoulder ;  and 
above  all,  having  the  soundest  legs  to  be  found  on  any  race  of  horses 
not  thoroughbred,  and  with  feet  like  iron ;  and  it  makes  no  mat- 
ter how  badly  they  are  shod,  or  what  hardships  they  undergo,  their 
feet  are  proof  against  founders,  and  all  other  diseases  of  the  foot. 

The  prevailing  color  of  the  Canadian  is  black,  and  brown  comes 
next ;  after  these  come  chestnuts,  duns  and  sorrels,  with  tails, 
manes  and  legs  of  a  color  lighter  than  the  body ;  and  last  of  all 
are  the  dark  iron-greys,  with  black  legs.  The  genuine  Canadians 
are  remarkable  for  thickness  of  manes  and  tails,  and  also  for  the 
wavy,  curly  texture  of  the  hairsjcomposing  them.  The  Canadian 
generally  measures  from  fourteen  to  fourteen  and  a  half  hands.  It 
is  seldom  that  one  is  found  that  is  speedy,  and  their  best  rate  is  six 
or  seven  miles  an  hour ;  but  they  can  pull  a  heavy  load,  and  can 
easily  go  fifty  miles  a  day  under  that  load  without  tiring,  and  some 
of  them  have  been  known  to  go  ninety  miles -in  a  day.  The  only 
instance  of  a  fast  or  speedy  horse  appearing  among  them,  was  the 
celebrated  trotting  stallion  St.  Lawrence,  who  was  well  known  in 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  21 

years  gone  by ;  and  it  is  a  singular  fact  that  no  attempts  have  ever 
been  made  to  improve  that  stock  among  themselves,  although 
many  of  them  have  been  improved  by  crossing  with  other  races. 
As  their  excellence  is  generally  acknowledged,  both  as  a  draught, 
and  farmer's  working  horse,  and  as  brood  mares,  from  which 
could  be  raised  a  useful  working  roadster,  by  breeding  them  to 
blooded  horses,  it  is  singular  that  breeders  do  not  pay  more  atten- 
tion to  this  subject.  The  easiest  way  to  improve  this  stock  is  to 
select  the  largest  and  most  shapely  mares  of  that  breed,  and  then 
select  the  best  stallions  of  that  breed,  always  remembering  the 
rules  already  laid  down,  and  to  see  that  the  mare  is  in  prime  con- 
dition before  putting  her  to  the  horse.  During  the  mare's  preg- 
nancy, she  should  be  liberally  fed  and  comfortably  sheltered,  though 
not  to  force  either  mother  or  foal  by  hot  lodging,  or  too  stimulous 
food  ;  and,  in  the  course  of  a  few  generations,  a  couple  of  inches 
will  be  added  to  the  height  of  the  Canadians,  while  their  former 
merits  of  bone  and  sinew  will  be  improved  upon. 

They  are  the  only  horses  of  cold  blood  that  it  would  be  advis- 
able to  breed  on  both  sides ;  that  is,  either  each  to  each,  or  each  to 
other,  for  the  improvement  of  their  own  and  other  foreign  strains. 
By  breeding  the  improved  Canadian  mare  to  a  well-selected  thor- 
oughbred, a  highly  improved  light  carriage  horse  or  a  good  roadster 
will  be  the  result ;  and  by  again  breeding  the  filly  produced  by 
this  cross  to  a  thoroughbred,  there  is  no  doubt  but  what  the  best 
saddle,  or  light  carriage  horses  in  the  world  can  be  produced,  and 
all  resembUng  the  Morgans,  but  sfiperior  to  them  in  every  respect. 
Norman  and  Canadian  stallions  are  the  only  horses  that  ought 
to  be  put  to  light  American  blooded  horses,  because  they  can 
be  made  to  produce  a  progeny,  improved  in  every  respect,  and 
better  adapted  to  become  the  mothers  of  large  carriage  horses,  by 
breeding  them  to  Normans,  either  native  or  imported.  The  Nor- 
mans, though  small  themselves,  when  crossed  in  either  way, 
generally  breed  larger  horses  than  themselves. 


22  HINTS   AND    HELPS    TO    HOESEMEN. 

THE  PUEE  NORMAN. 

The  Percheron  Norman  horse,  of  which  a  great  many  have 
been  imported  of  late  years  into  the  United  States,  originally 
belongs  to  Le  Perche,  a  district  of  France,  that  was  formerly 
known  as  Normandy,  where  the  improvement  of  the  horse  was 
cultivated  in  the  highest  degree  ;  and  indeed  the  remarkable  puri- 
ty of  that  family  is  vouched  for  in  the  certainty  with  which  either 
sire  or  dam  transmits  its  own  likeness  and  character  to  its  off- 
spring, no  matter  if  even  coupled  with  horses  of  a  superior  or  in- 
ferior blood ;  thus  proving,  that  like  begets  like  when  the  blood  is 
pure. 

If  a  pure  Norman  mare  is  bred  to  a  purer  blooded  stallion, 
the  marks  of  the  mare  will  descend  to  her  foal  with  very  little 
alteration  or  modification. 

Without  being  considered  a  thoroughbred,  the  Norman  may  be 
looked  upon  as  a  pure  race,  and  a  race  that  can  breed  in  and 
ill  without  altering  or  injuring  their  descendants  in  any  way,  just 
as  prize  cattle,  setters,  pointers,  greyhounds,  and  all  other  perfect 
animals  do.  This  family  of  horses  measure  fully  sixteen  hands  in 
height,  with  a  short  thick  head ;  hollow  and  wide  between  the 
eyes,  heavy  jaws,  short  ears,  short  thick  neck,  heavy  mane,  ex- 
tremely short  back,  steep  rump,  broad  quarters,  wide  chest,  large 
tendons,  well  developed  muscles,  short  legs,  and  much  hair  all 
over  the  limbs.  In  France,  the  males  are  never  castrated,  and 
there  is  wisdom  in  that  fact,  for  the  farmer  will  always  breed  from 
the  best  horse,  having  a  good  opf>ortunity  of  judging  which  is  the 
best,  as  they  are  all  broke  to  harness,  and  the  horse's  qualities  are 
well  known  before  he  enters  the  stud  ;  and  here  let  me  say,  that  it 
would  not  be  only  a  good  idea  to  follow  in  our  country,  but  it 
would  be  a  natural  one,  as  nature  never  intended  that  any  living 
thing  should  be  deprived  of  half  its  life,  or  else  they  would  be  born 
in  that  way ;  and  then,  again,  as  farmers  well  know,  the  horses 
that  are  gelded  very  often  tm"n  out  better  than  those  who  are  kept 


HINTS   AND    HELPS   TO    HORSEMEN.  23 

for  the  harem,  and  it  has  often  been  said :  "I  wish  that  I  had  never 
cut  that  horse." 

This  idea  of  the  Norman  people  is  one  of  the  causes  why  our 
race-horses  are  preserved,  if  not  improved ;  for  unless  very  vicious, 
we  do  not  deprive  our  thoroughbreds  of  the  means  of  generation, 
and,  therefore,  the  breeder  has  all  the  males  to  pick  from,  instead  of 
having  only  a  few  from  which  to  select,  and  by  this  time  he  knows 
which  is  the  best.  In  my  opinion,  a  general  law  should  be  passed 
which  would  read  something  like  this  :  '*  Any  man  caught  in  the 
act,  or  known  to  deprive  a  colt  of  his  sex,  must  suffer  in  like 
manner."  This  would  put  a  stop  to  a  barbarous  practice,  and 
make  everybody  obey  the  law  of  our  common  maker,  and  at  the 
same  time  benefit  the  breeder  in  many  ways. 

The  horses  of  Normandy  have  more  endurance  and  energy,  and 
can  work  harder,  with  less  food,  than  any  race  of  horses  living ;  and 
they  can  keep  their  condition  under  brutal  treatment  when  other 
breeds  would  die.  No  better  stallion  can  be  had  to  cross  with  our 
light  American  mares,-  and  we  hope  to  see  the  day  when  more  at- 
tention will  be  paid  to  this  particular  style  of  breeding. 


CHAPTER  SIXTH. 

ARABIAN  BLOOD  TOO  MUCH  PUFFED  UP. 

There  are  very  few  pure  Arabians  in  the  United  States,  and 
those  that  are  here,  are  of  no  account  as  getters  of  race-horses, 
having  been  tried  and  found  wanting.  Still,  however,  there  are  a 
great  many  people  who  believe  in  this  strain  of  fresh  blood,  and  to 
them  a  brief  history  of  the  Arab  may  be  interesting.  Coming  down 
from  past  ages,  we  learn  that  the  countries  from  which  he  sprung 
are  Arabia,  Persia,  Syria,  Barbary,  Abyssinia,  Nubia  and  Turkis- 
tan,  the  horses  of  which,  although  having  distinct  characters,  are 
nearly  all  connected  with  each  other.  In  the  American  race-horse, 
we  find  the  blood  of  the  Barb  more  common  than  the  pure  Arabian 
blood.  A  horse  is  not  looked  upon  as  a  thoroughbred  unless  he 
trace  back  in  both  lines  to  that  blood  ;  and  yet  there  is  not  a  race- 
horse in  the  United  States  but  what  could  beat  any  Arabian  in 
time  and  distance,  over  any  track,  either  here  or  in  Arabia. 

To  repeat  what  we  have  said  before :  if  we  intend  to  improve  any 
race,  the  blood  must  be  purer  on  the  side  of  the  sire  than  on  the 
side  of  the  dam,  and  that  he  must  be  an  animal  of  superior  qual- 
ities ;  and  there  is  no  denying  the  fact,  that  the  American  thorough- 
bred horse  is  a  superior  animal  to  any  of  the  Oriental  families,  and 
that  there  can  be  no  improvement  made  in  his  blood  by  mixing 
with  the  Arabian.  The  cause  of  this  is  very  plain,  for  as  the  dis- 
ciples of  Mahomet  have  been  going  down  the  ladder  of  life,  in  civil- 
ization, energy  and  power,  all  those  animals  under  them  have  fallen 


HINTS   AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  25 

in  a  corresponding  degree,  and  all  owing  to  the  want  of  care  and 
intelligence  in  the  owners  of  those  once  grand  and  valuable  horses. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  descendants  of  those  very  same  horses,  on 
American  soil,  have  vastly  improved,  because  they  are  better  housed, 
and,  in  fact,  are  attended  to  by  men  of  intelligence,  who  have  im- 
proved in  their  method  of  breeding,  and  who  know  enough  to  im- 
prove their  own  interests. 

A  cross  between  the  Arabain  and  the  Canadian,  or  Norman,  might 
be  advantageous,  but  at  present  we  feel  inclined  to  think  that  the 
modern  Oriental  is  greatly  overrated. 


CHAPTER    SEVENTH. 

WHAT   CAN   BE   SAID   ABOUT   PONIES. 

In  ancient  times,  ponies  were  rarely  spoken  of ;  but  in  the  nine- 
teenth century,  we,  who  inhabit  the  earth,  ought  to  know  them 
pretty  well ;  for  indeed  there  are  some  which  are  as  beautiful  and 
docile  as  they  are  lovely,  while  others,  like  the  Indian  ponies  of 
the  North-west,  and  the  war-horses  of  the  Apaches  and  Comanches, 
on  the  western  reserve  of  Texas,  are  as  wild  as  March  hares ;  but 
when  the  latter  are  captured  and  trained,  they  are  as  quiet  and  obe- 
dient as  one  would  wish.  I  know  an  instance  where  the  attendant 
of  the  now  celebrated  trotter  Rarus,  bought  a  pony,  in  Dallas, 
Texas,  for  twenty  dollars,  and  taught  him  to  actually  trot.  Bring- 
ing that  pony  North,  the  owner  captured  many  a  shekel  while  on 
his  way  from  Dallas  to  Brooklyn ;  for  everybody  knew  that  the 
canter  and  gallop  was  the  natural  pace  of  the  Indian  pony ;  but  no- 
body ever  dreamed  of  one  trotting. 

The  Mexican  and  Texan  mustang  are  similar,  and  are  undoubt- 
edly of  Moorish  blood  and  origin ;  but  how  they  ever  got  into  our 

Z 


26  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

Southern  border  State  has  been,  and  w  ill  always  remain  a  myBtery. 
They  run  from  thirteen  to  fourteen  hands  high ;  their  liftibs  are 
very  slight ;  and  their  shape — well,  it  is  no  shape  at  all ;  but  they 
have  long  lean  heads,  fine  manes  and  tails,  and  in  their  wide  nos- 
trils show  pure  blood  running  in  their  veins.  It  is  said  by  an  au- 
thority, that  they  lack  hardihood  and  endurance,  but  this  is  a 
mistake ;  as  I  know  from  actual  experience,  that  they  will  travel 
night  and  day,  without  rest,  providing  the  rider  will  allow  them  to 
nibble  the  prairie  grass,  and  give  them  a  generous  supply  of  water, 
when  crossing  a  stream  ;  and  although  they  are  not  what  would  be 
called  fast  travelers,  I  will  state,  without  fear  of  contradiction,  that 
they  will  outlast  any  horse  on  American  soil,  for  there  is  no  tire  in 
them,  and,  like  the  Norman  horse,  they  do  not  fret  at  being 
ill  fed. 

From  what  we  have  seen  of  said  ponies  in  Austin,  Texas,  and 
west  of  it,  we  have  a  high  opinion  of  them  for  their  staying  qual- 
ities ;  for  their  easy  carriage ;  and  above  all,  for  their  faithfulness, 
and  their  instinct  in  scenting  (Janger  afar  off ;  as  we  well  know. 

People  who  are  fond  of  special  colors  will  have  no  difficulty  in 
pleasing  their  taste,  provided  they  go  to  western  Texas  ;  for  they 
are  of  every  known  color ;  even  unto  piebald.  Our  constant  com- 
panion and  faithful  friend,  during  our  pilgrimage  through  Texas, 
was  a  bright  bay  filly,  and  the  recollection  of  her  goodness  will 
never  fade  from  our  mind. 

The  Indian  pony  of  the  upper  Mississipi  is  an  entirely  distinct 
animal  from  the  one  already  described ;  and  just  as  much  so,  as 
the  Comanche  Indian  differs  from  the  Sioux.  He  rarely  runs 
over  thirteen  hands,  and  is  compact  in  every  particular,  and  hav- 
ing feet  similar  to  the  Canadian  horse — all  iron.  A  mule  is  not 
any  more  sure  footed  than  this  pony,  and  they  will  jog  along  at 
their  leisure  for  a  whole  day  under  a  saddle,  or  drawing  a  heavy 
wagon,  without  a  murmur.  They  are  as  quiet  and  intelligent  as 
their  kin  in  Texas,  and  their  courage  is  proverbial ;  and  there  is  no 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  27 

doubt  but  what  they  could  be  improved  upon,   by  prudence, 
patience  and  good  treatment. 

SHETLANDS  AND  SCOTS. 

The  most  remarkable  of  European  ponies,  and  the  ones  most 
highly  prized  for  the  particular  use  made  of  them,  are  the  Shet- 
landers,  which  do  not  measure  over  nine  or  ten  hands.  The  shape 
is  round,  with  a  coarse  mane  like  a  lion ;  a  lean  bony  head,  and 
handsome.  The  ears  are  very  small,  lofty  and  well  placed ;  and 
having  clear,  intelligent,  and  very  large  eyes,  and  their  legs 
and  feet  are  matted  with  hair,  similar  to  the  Normans  and  Cana- 
dians. A  luxury  to  them  unknown,  is  oats,  but  a  bundle  of  wild 
hay  or  barley  straw  is  a  feast  to  them.  They  are  not  noted  for 
speed,  but  will  pull  a  couple  of  hundred  pounds  with  ease,  and 
travel  at  the  rate  of  five  miles  an  hour ;  but  in  reaUty,  they  are 
only  fit  for  boys  and  girls  to  ride,  and  in  that  sphere  they  are  at 
home  ;  and  yet  they  are  very  tricky,  and  like  the  ass,  will  throw 
their  rider  over  their  head  once  in  a  while,  and  then  turn  round  and 
Jaugh  at  the  unfortunate  victim ;  but  will  remain  standing,  until 
j-emounted,  and  await  a  favorable  opportunity  to  repeat  a  trick. 
All  colors  abound,  except  white  and  gray,  which  are  very  rare,  and 
black  is  considered  the  best. 

There  are  no  descriptions  of  ponies  more  worthy  of  particular 
notice  than  the  Galloways  and  Narragansetts  ;  and,  in  fact,  they 
ought  not  to  be  called  ponies,  for  they  are  really  a  connecting 
link  between  a  horse  and  a  pony ;  and  in  Ireland  are  commonly 
called  ' '  Cobs. "  The  one  was  from  Galloway  on  the  coast  of 
Scotland,  and  the  other  from  Gal  way,  in  the  west  of  Ireland  ;  and 
the  two  were  so  similar  in  appearance,  habits  and  docility,  that 
although  they  were  separated  by  a  wide  sea,  they  were  one  and  the 
same  thing. 

In  the  first  named  place,  they  were  noted  for  their  speed,  endur- 
ance and  easiness  of  gait,  and  were  highly  prized  for  saddle  purpo- 


28  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

ses  ;  but  the  breed  is  now  extinct,  so  far  as  Scotland  and  England 
are  concerned.  Across  the  channel,  however,  the  case  is  different ; 
for  they  roam  in  a  semi-civilized  state,  as  the  poverty  of  the  farm- 
ers, and  the  wild  rudeness  of  the  district  of  Gal  way,  allow  them  to  be 
as  wild  as  our  own  western  ponies.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  they 
descended  from  Spanish  horses  ;  for  in  the  fourteenth  and  fif- 
teenth centuries,  Spain  and  Galway  were  intimately  connected  by 
commerce ;  and  it  is  not  only  in  horses  that  the  blood  of  the  Span- 
iards can  be  traced,  but  also  in  the  people  of  Connaught,  the  traces 
of  Moorish  blood  can  be  seen  even  now.  And  then,  again,  when 
the  Spanish  Armada  was  wrecked  on  both  coasts,  the  Span- 
ish ships  were  full  of  cavalry ;  the  horses,  no  doubt,  saved  their 
lives  by  swimruing  ashore,  while  their  masters  drowned  ;  and  thus 
adding  something  new  and  valuable  to  the  empire  of  Queen  Eliza- 
beth. In  endurance  they  are  equal  to  our  Texas  ponies,  and  it  is  a 
pity  that  such  a  fine  breed  of  animals  should  become  extinct,  for 
really  they  are  worth  preserving.  As  they  are  a  pure  race,  of 
rare  powers,  we  would  suggest  that  some  noted  breeder  would 
look  into  the  matter,  and  rescue  those  splendid  animals  from  the 
wilds  of  Galway,  and  breed  a  race  of  American  "  Cobs  "  that  would 
become  very  popular  m  the  course  of  a  few  years ;  for  no  better 
saddle  horses  ever  existed,  and,  as  for  docility  and  endurance,  none 
can  equal  them  except  our  own  Indian  ponies ;  and  the  two  together 
would  make  a  splendid  race  of  animals. 


CHAPTER  EIGHTH. 

HINNIES  AND  MULES. 

Everybody  knows  that  the  mule  is  a  cross  between  the  ass  and 
the  horse  ;  but  how  many  are  there  that  know  the  difference 
between  a  hinny  and  a  mule  ?  They  have  no  idea  that  the  two 
animals  are  distinct,  and  yet  both  are  the  offspring  of  the  horse  and 
the  ass.  But  which  is  which ;  and  which  is  the  other  ?  Can  all  of 
our  readers  answer  this  question  before  wading  any  furthOT  into 
this  chapter  ? 

I  remember  once  seeing  a  negro  in  New  Orleans  use  every  effort 
in  his  power  to  make  one  of  those  stubborn  brutes  rise  from  the 
ground,  where  he  had  laid  down,  determined  to  stick  it  out  if  it  took 
all  summer.  The  day  was  very  warm,  and  I  stood  laughing  when 
Sambo  would  use  his  eloquence  on  that  champion  Iyer-down  ;  and 
would  condemn  him  when  he  used  his  rawhide  unmercifully.  But, 
to  tell  the  truth,  the  darkey  gave  out  first.  The  poor  brute  took 
all  the  beating  without  a  murmur,  and  when  the  darkey  got  tired, 
the  animal  kind  of  smiled  at  him,  which  made  him  wax  elo- 
quent, in  the  following  words  : 

"  Now,  you  dog-gone  mule,  you's  got  puttin  on  airs  with  dis 
chile,  'case  he  is  a  darkey,  and  all  de  time  you's  a  f orgettin  dat 
your  fader  was  a  darn  jackass." 

Now,  to  tell  the  truth,  if  that  colored  gentleman  had  any  money 
I  would  have  won  it  from  him  on  the  spot,  by  way  of  punishment ; 
but  as  he  had  none,  I  approached  him,  saying : 


30  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

"Uncle,  the  father  of  that  happy  creature  was  not  a  jackass; 
and,  another  thing,  he  is  not  a  mule. " 

* '  Good  lor,  massa,  if  dat  ugly  reptile  is  not  a  mule,  then  he  is  the 
debbil ;  but  he's  sure  to  be  fixed  when  I  cotch  him  home  ;  and  now 
he  can  lay  dere  just  as  long  as  he  likes,  for  dis  chile  can  stand  it  as 
long  as  he  can." 

I  did  not  give  him  the  necessary  information,  because  it  looked 
like  so  much  knowledge  thrown  away,  but  left  him  in  doubt  as  to 
whether  he  was  diiving  a  mule  or  a  devil.  It  is  unnecessary  to 
state  that  he  was  not  driving  either,  for,  in  fact,  it  was  a  hinny. 

I  have  no  doubt  but  that  there  are  a  great  many  people  in  the 
same  fix  the  dai'key  was  in,  and  I  will  now  tell  them  the  difference. 

The  offspring  of  the  male  ass  and  the  female  horse,  is  surely  the 
mule,  without  a  shadow  of  doubt.  The  offspring  of  the  male 
horse  and  the  female  ass  is  the  hinny  ;  and  the  surest  way  to  dis- 
tinguish between  the  two  is,  the  hinny  neighs,  while  the  mule  brays. 
And  this  is  not  all ;  for  while  the  mule  has  all  the  external  resem- 
blance of  the  ass,  the  hinny  bears  a  more  striking  resemblance  to 
the  horse.  Now,  if  we  examine  a  little  further,  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  mule  has  the  temper  and  beautiful  character  of  the  ass  in 
his  natm*e ;  and  the  hinny  more  of  the  horse.  By  a  knowledge  of 
these  facts,  which  are  full  proof,  the  breeder  is  led  to  insist  that 
the  sire  gives  the  greatest  excess  of  blood  and  energy,  and  that  he 
invariably  finds  that,  whether  the  mare  be  the  most  wi'etched  one 
in  existence,  or  a  thoroughbred  equal  to  Peytona,  when  the  sire  is 
a  jackass,  the  mule  of  the  ass  type  is  the  consequence. 

The  hinny  has  a  small,  well  formed  head,  the  full  tail,  and  flow- 
ing mane  ;  the  form,  feet,  legs,  and  voice  of  the  horse  ;  while  the 
mule  has  an  almost  hairless  tail,  with  ears  slightly  modified,  slen- 
der legs,  and  the  voice  of  the  ass.  What  appears  remarkable  is, 
that  the  offspring  of  the  male  ass  and  female  horse  is  generally  a 
larger  animal  fhan  that  of  the  stallion  and  female  ass,  and  very 
often  larger  than  either  of  his  parents. 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  31 

The  mule  which  has  for  its  sire  the  male  ass,  has  all  of  his 
qualities— the  patience,  endurance,  and  faculty  of  keeping  himself 
in  good  condition  where  a  horse  would  starve ;  and  the  sure  foot 
of  the  ass,  with  his  temper,  stubbornness  and  vice ;  while  the  hinny 
is  hardier,  more  patient,  and  better  able  to  stand  privation  than 
the  horse ;  but  is  inferior  in  all  those  qualities  to  the  ass  and  the 
mule.  At  the  same  time,  he  is  more  gentle  in  temper,  and  nearer 
the  horse  in  all  Ids  characteristics.  Both  the  hinny  and  the  mule 
are  modified  asses,  as  they  both  have  more  of  the  ass  than  the  horse 
in  them ;  but  that  proportion  of  more  depends  altogether  on  the 
male,  and  not  on  the  dam. 

It  is  quite  clear  th^t  in  all  hybrids  of  the  horse  and  the  ass,  the 
latter  gives  the  greater  proportion  of  internal  and  external  charac- 
ter ;  then,  if  we  are  breeding  mules,  on  the  courage,  temper,  and 
spirit  of  the  he-ass,  all  will  depend  in  the  like  production  of  the  proge- 
ny— while,  if  the  mare  is  sound  and  roomy,  it  makes  no  matter 
whether  she  is  a  mare  pulUng  an  ash  cart  or  a  pure  thoroughbred. 

If  it  is  hinnies  we  want,  we  must  find  the  best  stallion,  in  blood 
and  bone  ;  while  in  the  female  ass,  all  we  may  look  for,  is  soundness 
and  size  enough  to  give  her  room  enough  to  contain  a  foal  larger 
than  her  own  progeny,  as  the  hinny  is  likely  to  be.  It  is  our  opin- 
ion that  the  hinny  is  as  good  as  he  is  handsome,  compared  to  the 
mule,  and  superior  to  the  latter  for  saddle  purposes  ;  but  being  in- 
ferior to  the  horse  for  that  specialty,  and  inferior  to  the  mule  as  a 
beast  of  draught,  he  unluckily  has  no  place  of  his  own,  and  there- 
fore he  has  got  a  bad  name  and  nobody  will  cultivate  him. 

Mules  are  more  largely  bred  in  the  United  States  than  in  any 
other  country,  if  we  except  South  America  ;  and,  as  beasts  of  bur- 
den, they  are  infinitely  superior  to  any  other  animal.  He  can 
carry  twice  as  much  as  the  horse,  if  not  hurried,  and  keep  himself 
in  good  condition  where  the  horse  would  starve  ;  and  he  will  last 
twice  as  long  as  the  average  of  horses.  This  will  be  an  induce- 
ment to  breed  the  mule,  and  to  use  him  where  he  is  best  fitted. 


32  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HOESEMEN. 

Asses  are  not  bred  to  any  great  extent  in  the  United  States,  the 
majority  of  them  being  imported,  and  it  is  of  the  greatest  conse- 
quence that  the  proper  jacks  should  be  selected  for  the  purpose 
designed.  It  is  well  to  observe,  right  here,  that  the  work  of  the 
mule  will  ever  be  in  the  field,  and  team  draught  on  the  road ;  and 
in  the  far  west  they  will  be  used  as  pack  animals. 

While  we  try  to  raise  the  largest  mules  possible,  thinking  they 
are  the  best,  the  fact  is,  that  the  smaller  animals  are  greatly  super- 
ior for  all  the  purposes  intended  of  them. 

There  are  three  different  varieties  of  asses  from  which  to 
breed ;  the  first  of  which  is  the  Spanish  jack,  which  gets  mules 
for  farming  purposes.  The  next  is  the  Andalusian  jack,  a  degen- 
erated descendant  of  the  Arabian  species ;  sprightly,  high-spirited, 
and  sufficiently  strong  for  every  purposed;  and  the  last  is  the  Arab- 
ian jack,,  which  stands  in  the  same  ratio  to  the  ass,  as  the  thorough- 
bred does  to  the  horse.  To  breed  from  any  of  the  aforesaid  jacks, 
a  mare  standing  fifteen  hands  in  height,  is  sufficient  stature ;  but 
they  should  be  roomy,  long-bodied  and  bony.  Well-selected 
Canadian  or  Norman  mares  will  prove  to  be  the  best  mothers  of 
mules,  and  thoroughbreds  will  always  prove  to  be  the  worst ;  and 
all  that  remains  to  be  said  is,  mules  should  be  handled  as  young 
as  possible,  and  then  they  will  become  gentle  and  lamb-like. 


CHAPTER  NIKTH. 

POINTS   IN   HORSE   BUYING. 

To  become  a  judge  of  horses,  one  in  whom  confidence  can  be 
placed,  and  whose  word  is  authority,  it  will  be  necessary  to  serve 
half  a  lifetime  in  the  close  study  of  the  anatomy  of  the  animal ; 
and  even  then,  there  are  some  who  know  no  more  than  they  did 
when  they  first  started.  There  is  a  knack  about  it,  that  comes  as 
a  gift,  and  this  natural  study  and  judgment  of  horsefiesh  is  worth 
more  than  a  man  can  learn  in  colleges  during  the  whole  space  of 
his  life.  Still,  there  are  persons  of  intelligence  who  remember 
what  they  have  read,  and  they  are  not  often  deceived  in  matters 
of  that  kind,  although  it  must  be  admitted  that  they  are  not  thor- 
oughly posted.  The  amateur  who  wishes  to  buy  a'trst-class  horse 
for  his  own  use,  and  who  does  not  pretend  to  be  a  judge  of  the 
animal,  must  never  buy  at  a  horse  fair,  nor  attempt  to  buy  out  of 
the  breeder's  hands ;  but,  instead,  he  must  buy  of  some  one  whose 
character  is  above  reproach,  and  who  has  some  honor  to  lose. 
This  kind  of  a  dealer  will  try  to  get  all  he  can  for  his  horse,  but  it 
is  very  unlikely  that  he  will  deceive  the  buyer,  for  his  reputation 
for  fairness  and  honesty  is  at  stake,  and  doing  wrong  once  might 
ruin  him. 

It  is  very  often  the  case  that  breeders  do  not  actually  know 

themselves  what  their  horses  are,  in  regard  to  speed  and  soundness, 

having,  perhaps,  never  tested  the  animal  offered  for  sale ;  but,  by 

buying  of  the  breeder,  you  may  be  pretty  well  assured  that  he 

believes  the  horse  to  be  right.    It  is  almost  a  certainty  that  horses 

2* 


34  HINTS    AND'    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

in  the  hands  of  the  breeder  are  never  properly  trained,  and,  unless 
the  buyer  is  a  perfect  horseman,  it  will  cost  as  much  more  to  kaye 
the  horse  properly  trained,  before  he  can  use  him  with  safety. 

Never  imagine  that  perfection  can  be  bought  for  a  song,  or  that 
cheapness  ever  got  a  good  horse,  for  a  good  bargain  is  always  sus- 
picious, to  say  the  least.  If  the  animal  offered  for  sale  is  very 
superior,  has  a  showy  appearance,  a  fine  style  of  action,  and  the 
price  asked  is  low,  it  is  morally  certain  that  such  horse  has  a  very 
bad  fault,  which  time  will  surely  discover.  It  will  be  always 
better  to  give  the  seller  more  knowledge  than  you  possess,  for  he 
is  aware  of  what  he  is  doing,  and  you  are  guessing.  Always  pay 
a  good  price  for  a  horse,  taking  a  written  guarantee  that  he  is 
sound  in  wind  and  limb,  and  free  from  all  blemish ;  and  then  you 
will  not  likely  be  deceived,  for  everybody,  horse  dealers  included, 
is  shy  of  the  law. 

Farmers'  horses  are  the  I'east  difQcult  to  buy,  and  the  saddle 
horse  is  the  hardest  to  select.  The  best  points  to  judge  a  horse 
from,  is  his  legs,  for  if  they  are  bad  and  all  the  rest  lovely,  then 
he  is  worth  nothing.  The  age  and  eyes  are  next  to  be  looked  at ; 
and  as  to  the  former,  up  to  his  seventh  year,  the  marks  in  the 
teeth  of  both  jaws  plauily  tells  the  number  of  years  the  animal  has 
lived.  The  lower  jaw  varies  every  year  until  the  eighth,  when 
the  marks  go  out  of  use. 

The  jockeys  have  a  rascally  system  of  forging  false  marks  on 
the  teeth  of  horses  that  are  aged,  often  making  them  appear  five 
or  six  years  old,  when  in  reality  they  are  eight  or  ten  ;  and  is  so 
deceiving,  that  sometimes  old  hands  are  caught  in  the  trap.  This 
is  done  with  a  file  and  the  usual  cautery  ;  but  with  all  this,  there 
are  some  signs  which  cannot  be  removed,  and  are  easily  recognized 
by  anyone  well  posted.  In  a  young  horse,  the  crown  of  the  tooth 
is  oblong  ia  form,  lengthwise,  or  in  the  line  of  the  jaw  bone  ;  but 
in  very  old  horses,  the  crowns  change  their  shape,  and  become 
oblong  across  the  jaw  bone. 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  35 

Whenever  the  tooth  has  taken  this  form,  or  has  become  modified 
from  the  lengthy  shape,  it  is  dead  certain  that  the  horse  is  too  old  to 
be  valuable.  Another  sign,  is  the  length  of  the  teeth  from  the  crown 
to  the  root,  looking  like  those  of  the  hare  or  rabbit ;  and  the  in- 
crease is  regular  with  the  increase  of  age.  A  buyer  should  always 
look  to  the  points  mentioned,  as  what  one  seeks  to  avoid  is  extreme 
age,  not  maturity,  or  even  the  beginning  of  decline.  It  matters 
little  to  a  racing  man  whether  the  horse  he  buys  is  eight  or  nine 
years  old,  providing  he  is  sound,  and  free  from  the  effects  of  wear 
and  tear ;  but  always  remember,  never  to  buy  a  horse  under  six,  if 
required  for  hard  use ;  and  if  the  animal  be  sound,  and  clean  in  the 
legs,  it  would  be  better  to  buy  at  eight  or  nine  years  old. 

Next  to  the  legs,  the  eyes  are  the  most  important,  and  in  which 
imperfection  is  often  hard  to  detect,  as  there  are  some  kinds  of 
blindness  which  give  no  sign.  While  examing  the  eye,  the  horse 
should  be  in  the  stable,  standing  a  little  within  the  door,  but  never 
in  the  open  air.  The  cornea  is  a  perfectly  transparent  coat,  placed 
in  front  of  the  eye,  and  inserted  like  a  watch  glass ;  and  if  any 
whitish  lines  seem  to  cross  it,  they  are  signs  to  tell  you  of  previous 
inflammation.  If  the  centre  and  bulk  of  the  cornea  should  be  per- 
fectly clear,  and  the  edge  around  it  should  have  a  ring  of  haziness, 
then  the  sign  is  true ;  but  the  inflammation  is  not  of  a  recent  period  ; 
but  nevertheless  it  is  likely  to  return.  A  simple  way  of  detecting 
anything  wrong  about  the  sight,  is  to  hold  the  horse  by  the  head- 
stall,* and  after  caressing  him  gently,  so  as  to  avoid  alarming  him, 
stand  in  front  of  the  horse  and  move  the  fingers  rapidly  towards 
and  across  his  eyes,  carefully  noting  how  he  winks  or  starts  ;  but 
care  must  be  taken  not  to  create  a  current  of  air  by  moving  the 
hand  too  quick,  for  that  would  cause  a  horse  that  was  totally  blind 
to  wink  and  start  back,  just  as  if  he  could  see. 

Next  to  the  eyes,  the  condition  of  the  lungs  must  be  looked 
af ter,  and  this  requires  a  careful  examination ;  and  where  one  is 
found  with  any  complaint  of  this  sort,  reject  him  on  the  spot,  as 


36  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

Buch  disease  is  never  cured.  This  malady  is  caused  by  the  rup- 
ture of  one  or  more  of  the  air  cells  of  the  lungs,  and  the  loud, 
sobbmg  breath,  heavy  heaving  and  jerking  of  the  flanks,  tells  the 
story.  There  are  jockey  tricks  which  will  cover  this  disease  for 
the  space  of  three  days  ;  but  let  the  horse  be  galloped  a  hundred 
yards,  up  hill,  and  then  let  the  rider  spring  quickly  to  the 
ground,  and,  putting  his  ear  to  the  chest,  the  double  expiration 
will  be  heard,  even  if  the  flanks  do  not  move.  Want  of  space  in 
the  lungs  produces  "  thick  wind,"  and  the  exertion  in  trying  to 
breathe  often  leads  to  suffocation.  Whistling,  wheezing  and 
roaring  are  modifications  of  thick  wind;  and  any  animal  subject 
to  any  one  of  these  complaints  will  soon  become  exhausted,  and, 
no  matter  what  the  form  is,  it  will  finally  end  in  broken  wind. 
All  of  these  diseases  are  easily  detected,  for  by  catching  the  horse 
by  the  throat,  he  will  be  compelled  to  cough,  and  if  sound,  will 
cough  only  once,  and  then  recover ;  but  if  unsound,  his  cough 
will  be  broken,  ragged  and  rattling,  and  he  will  recover  his 
breath  with  a  long,  laborious  effort.  By  hitting  a  roarer  a  sud- 
den slap  on  the  belly,  he  will  utter  a  loud  grunt,  and,  when 
roaring  becomes  chronic,  speed  will  bring  it  out ;  but  if  he  only 
whistles,  the  best  way  is  to  pull  him  up  suddenly  after  a  long 
gallop,  and,  bringing  the  ear  close  to  the  windpipe,  the  whistling 
will  be  heard  for  many  seconds.  There  is  no  point  in  a  horse  in 
which  an  amateur  is  more  likely  to  be  deceived  than  in  wind,  and 
it  will  require  the  greatest  caution  to  be  able  to  find  it  out.    • 


CHAPTER   TENTH. 

HINTS  IN  REGARD  TO  THE  LEGS  AND  FEET. 

There  is  nothing  more  fatal  to  the  horse  than  the  diseases  of 
the  feet  and  legs ;  for  once  a  horse  loses  the  power  of  traveling, 
he  is  useless,  except  for  the  stud,  and  even  then  he  or  she  is 
worth  but  very  little.  The  buyer  should  insist  on  driving  the 
horse  /apidly  on  a  hard  road,  and  if  there  is  any  lameness  in  him, 
it  will  crop  out  immediately.  When  white  hairs  are  discovered 
in  smtU  spots,  except  on  the  face  and  feet,  they  are  the  signs  of 
woun  is  ;  and  wounds  of  greater  depth  are  often  proven  by  bare 
spots,  where  the  roots  of  the  hair  have  been  destroyed.  If  white 
spots  are  seen  on  the  knees,  it  is  morally  certain  that  the  horse  has 
at  some  time  or  other  broken  his  knees  by  falling ;  but  this  is  noth- 
ing if  it  be  healed,  as  it  does  not  cause  unsoundness.  Still,  a 
horse  that  has  fallen  once  will,  in  all  likelihood,  fall  again,  and  it 
is  best  to  pass  on  all  such. 

When  examining  the  legs  of  a  horse,  the  buyer  should  stand 
with  his  face  broadside  to  the  horse,  and  see  whether  he  stands 
with  his  legs  straddled,  or  with  all  di-awn  under  his  belly,  or 
stands  with  the  natural  proportion  of  his  weight  on  each  leg 
squarely,  or  whether  he  favors  one  leg  more  than  another,  by 
placing  it  in  a  position  where  no  weight  is  thrown  on  it.  A  horse 
may,  from  accident  or  impatience,  point  a  toe  forward  once  or 
twice,  but  he  should  be  instantly  brought  back  to  his  former 
position,  and  if  he  is  then  found  to  favor  the  same  foot,  there  will 


38  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HOESEMEN. 

be  cause  for  suspicion ;  and  if  it  is  the  toe  of  the  fore  foot,  it 
may  be  put  clown  as  disease  of  the  coffin  bone,  which  is  almost 
incurable.  If  the  horse  has  ever  been  foundered,  he  will  show  it 
by  throwing  both  front  feet  forward  and  stretching  the  hind  feet 
backward ;  and  if  he  stands  with  all  his  feet  drawn  together,  he 
is  sure  to  be  gone  up.  Should  he  bend  his  knees  forward,  and  his 
legs  become  nervous,  it  is  certain  that  he  has  been  knocked  all  to 
pieces  by  hard  driving  or  overwork ;  but  if  he  stands  squarely  and 
truly,  leaning  his  weight  on  all  his  legs,  then  it  may  be  taken  for 
granted  that  he  is  all  right  as  far  as  his  pina  are  concerned. 

Curbed  horses,  or  those  having  hocks  curbed  shaped,  are  to  be 
avoided  ;  but  an  old  horse  that  has  done  his  share  of  work  with- 
out being  curbed,  must  not  be  thrown  aside  because  he  has  curby 
hocks ;  for  if  his  early  hard  work  did  not  bring  them  out,  there  is 
no  danger  that  he  will  do  so  now.  The  purchaser  must  now  stand 
facing  the  horse's  head,  and  observe  if  the  horse  moves  his  legs 
regular  without  favoring  one  or  the  other,  and  see  if  he  is  knock- 
kneed  or  bow-kneed,  and  if  either,  he  is  almost  sure  to  strike  one 
leg  with  the  hoof  of  the  other,  a  bad  and  often  dangerous  fault. 
Cat-hammed  horses  are  those  whose  hocks  are  drawn  in,  and  this 
is  a  sign  of  weakness.  This  examination  being  over,  the  buyer 
will  look  to  the  several  legs  for  marks  of  unsoundness,  such  as 
splints,  ringbones,  and  damaged  sinews  in  the  fore  legs,  and  in  the 
hind  legs ;  bone,  blood  or  bog  spavins  ;  curbs,  thoroughpins  and 
ringbones.  These  are  the  points  the  buyer  should  look  at ;  but, 
even  if  he  is  a  good  judge,  my  advice  is  to  never  buy  without  a 
guaranty  that  all  is  right. 

THE   WAY   TO   FIND    OUT   A   HORSE'S   AGE. 

There  are  two  sets  of  teeth,  the  first  of  which  is  called  the 
milk  teeth,  which  come  before  the  horse  is  one  year  old ;  and  the 
second  are  permanent,  which  come  after  the  former  have  fallen 
out,  and  this  is  completed  when  the  horse  is  five  years  old. 


HINTS   AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  39 

The  nippers  are  the  most  uniform  in  their  progression,  and  of 
these  there  are  six ;  those  farthest  from  the  centre  are  termed 
* '  corner  teeth. "  These  corner  teeth,  and,  in  fact,  all  of  the  nippers, 
are  made  of  a  bony  substance,  inclosed  in  enamel,  which  gives  hard- 
ness to  the  teeth.  The  milk  teeth  give  place  to  the  permanent  set, 
in  the  following  order :  the  middle  nippers  at  two  and  a  half  to 
three  years ;  the  next  pair  at  three  and  a  half  to  four  years,  and 
the  corner  teeth  at  four  and  a  half  to  five  years. 

When  five  years  old,  the  corners  are  up  even  with  the  other  teeth, 
the  mark  is  entirely  worn  out  from  the  middle  nippers,  and  partly 
worn  from  the  next  pair. 

When  six  years  old,  the  mark  is  nearly  gone  from  the  second  pair, 
and  the  outer  edge  of  the  corner  teeth  is  worn  down. 

When  seven  years  old,  the  mark  is  entirely  gone  from  the  second 
pair ;  the  edges  of  the  corner  teeth  are  worn  somewhat  flat,  though 
there  is  yet  a  slight  cavity  in  the  centre. 

When  eight  years  old,  the  teeth  of  the  lower  jaw  are  worn  enth-e- 
ly  flat,  the  mark  having  disappeared  from  all  of  them.  The  sur- 
face of  the  tooth  has  become  oval  in  form,  and  the  central 
enamel  is  long  from  side  to  side,  and  is  near  to  the  front  of  the 
tooth. 

When  nine  years  old,  the  middle  nippers  are  rounded  on  the  inner 
side,  the  oval  of  the  corner  teeth  and  second  pair  becomes  broader, 
the  central  enamel  is  nearer  to  the  inner  side,  and  the  marks  have 
left  the  upper  jaw. 

When  ten  years  old,  the  second  pair  are  rounded  on  the  inner  side, 
and  the  central  enamel  is  very  near  to  the  inner  side. 

When  eleven  years  old,  the  corner  teeth  are  rounded,  and  the  cen- 
tral enamel  becomes  very  narrow. 

When  twelve  years  old,  the  nippers  are  all  rounded,  and  the  cen- 
tral enamel  has  entirely  left  the  lower  j.aw,  but  it  may  be  seen  in 
the  upper  jaw. 

When  thirteen  years  old,  the  middle  nippers  commence  a  triangu- 


40  HINTS   AND    HELPS   TO    HORSEMEN. 

lar  form  in  the  lower  jaw,  and  the  central  enamel  has  disappeared 
from  the  corner  teeth  of  the  upper  jaw. 

When  fourteen  years  old,  the  middle  nippers  have  become  triangu- 
lar, and  the  second  pair  are  assuming  that  form.  The  central 
enamel  has  diminished  in  the  middle  nippers  of  the  upper  jaw. 

When  fifteen  years  old,  the  second  pair  have  become  triangular, 
the  central  enamel  is  still  visible  in  the  upper  jaw. 

When  sixteen  years  old,  all  of  the  teeth  in  the  lower  jaw  have 
become  triangular,  and  the  central  enamel  is  entirely  removed  from 
the  second  pair  in  the  upper  jaw. 

When  seventeen  years  old,  the  sides  of  the  triangle  of  the  middle 
nippers  are  all  of  the  same  length ;  the  central  enamel  has  entirely 
disappeared  from  the  upper  teeth. 

When  eighteen  years  old,  the  sides  of  the  triangle  of  the  middle 
nippers  are  longer  at  the  sides  of  the  teeth  than  in  the  front. 

When  nineteen  years  old,  the  middle  nippers  become  flattened 
from  side  to  side,  and  long  from  front  to  rear. 

When  twenty  years  old,  the  second  pair  assume  the  same  form. 

When  twenty-one  years  old,  all  of  the  teeth  of  the  lower  jaw  have 
become  flattened  from  side  to  side,  their  greatest  diameter  being 
exactly  the  reverse  of  what  it  was  in  youth. 


CHAPTER  ELEVENTH. 

THE  PROPER  WAY  TO  FEED  A  HORSE. 

It  is  well  known  to  those  who  thoroughly  understand  the  horse 
and  his  habits,  that  his  entire  health,  fitness  for  work,  and,  above 
all,  his  value,  depends  altogether  on  his  food,  the  amount  he  eats, 
whether  it  is  good  or  bad,  and  the  punctuality  in  giving  it  to  him 
at  regular  hours.  I  remember  once  in  Washington,  when  Doctor 
Leiberman  was  lecturing  me  on  account  of  my  irregular  habits  of 
living,  he  actually  compared  me  to  a  horse,  which,  at  the  time,  I 
thought  was  horrid  ;  but  now  1  know  that  he  was  perfectly  right 
when  he  said:  "If  I  feed  my  horse  to-day  at  twelve  o'clock,  to- 
morrow at  two,  and  the  next  day  at  eleven,  my  horse  will  not  pull 
my  carriage,  and  so  it  is  with  you.  To  be  able  to  live  and  keep  up 
your  condition,  you  must  eat  regularly,  and  if  not,  you  will  be  like 
my  horse — not  able  to  pull. "  Careless  grooming,  wretched  stabling, 
and  ragged  clothing  is  bad  enough,  but  it  must  be  said,  that  the 
evil  most  horses  labor  under,  and  the  disgrace  of  most  stables,  is 
bad  feeding ;  and  often  when  the  owner  is  liberal  in  expenditures, 
and  when  nothing  else  is  necessary,  except  intelligence,  and  a  pro- 
per knowledge  of  the  horse  and  his  wants. 

A  horse  should  be  fed  according  to  his  work,  and  before  he  sheds 
a  tear  at  seeing  the  first  light  of  day,  his  dam  should  not  only  be 
well  fed,  but  properly  taken  care  of.  If  to  ill-treat  them  before 
the  birth  of  the  foal,  and  expose  them  to  the  sudden  changes  of 
the  weather  without  shelter,  and  without  food  except  such  as  the 


42  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

mare  can  pick  up  in  the  pasture,  then  the  breeder  need  not  be  as- 
tonished at  seeing  an  animal  that  ought  never  to  have  come  into 
the  world  for  very  shame  of  its  owner.  ' '  Penny  wise  and  pound 
foolish  "  will  never  pay  the  breeder  who  undertakes  it. 

From  the  time  of  its  birth,  a  foal  should  be  treated  according  to 
its  blood ;  and  here  be  it  understood,  that  no  one  expects  a  foal,  the 
produce  of  a  Norman,  Canadian,  or  a  cart  stallion  out  of  a  common 
mare,  and  of  whom  it  is  expected  to  do  nothing  but  drudgery  all 
its  life,  ought  to  command  the  same  attention  and  care  that  a  thor- 
oughbred should  receive  ;  but,  nevertheless,  it  may  be  said,  that  il 
it  is  worth  the  trouble  to  raise  any  kind  of  colt,  it  is  worth  while 
to  raise  a  good  one  ;  for  to  a  man  of  feeling,  the  trouble  is  just  the 
same. 

As  the  foal  is  growing,  he  should  be  petted,  and  coaxed  to  eat  of 
oats  out  of  the  hand,  and  after  awhile  he  will  take  to  them  kindly, 
and  like  ' '  little  Oliver, "  will  be  crying  for  more.  Then  please  him 
by  dealing  out  every  day  in  his  little  trough  a  quart  or  two,  and  in- 
crease gradually  to  a  full  peck,  during  the  first  year ;  and  to  two 
pecks  added  to  his  grazing  in  summer,  and  his  chopped  straw,  hay, 
or  other  feed  in  winter,  of  his  second  year ;  will  reward  his  owner 
ten-fold  all  it  cost  him. 

A  foal  thus  treated,  at  two  years  old,  will  be  the  equal  of  any  three- 
year  old  that  is  treated  otherwise,  and  this,  in  itself,  exemplifies 
the  story  about  "penny  wise."  Any  man  who  is  fond  of  children 
will  treat  a  foal,  in  the  same  spirit  of  kindness  he  would  a  child, 
and  those  who  do  not  do  it,  look  in  their  own  light ;  and  even  with 
an  ordinary  foal  this  kind  of  treatment  will  be  a  hundred  dollars 
more  in  the  owner's  pocket  when  the  foal  is  three  years  old.  Good 
food  to  the  foal,  and  plenty  of  it,  is  like  rain  and  sunshine  to  the 
flower,  for  both  grow  when  kindly  refreshed. 

When  we  come  to  the  working  horse,  and  those  that  are  supposed 
to  be  what  is  called  fast  working  horses,  give  them  more  grain  than 
hay,  then  watch  the  result.    As  for  road  horses,  or  a  carriage  team, 


HINTS   AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  43 

from  eight  to  ten  pounds  of  the  best  hay,  and  twelve  quarts  of  heavy 
oats,  daily,  is  a  sufficient  allowance.  On  opening  the  stables  every 
morning,  the  first  thing  that  should  be  done,  is  to  feed  with  a  lock 
of  hay  and  half  a  pail  of  water,  and  when  the  stables  are  thor- 
oughly cleaned,  aired  and  littered,  and  when  they  are  neatly 
groomed,  give  them  the  other  half  pail  of  water  and  four  quarts  of 
oats,  unless  they  are  going  out ;  and  when  they  have  nipped  all 
this,  indulge  them  still  further  with  five  pounds  of  hay,  put  in 
their  rack,  and  let  them  remain  dark  and  quiet.  But  should  they 
have  an  early  trip  to  make,  give  them  six  quarts  of  oats  at  their 
morning  feed,  but  no  hay.  At  noon,  repeat  the  morning  exercise, 
and  after  they  return  from  their  afternoon  trip,  they  should  be  first 
cleaned,  then  watered,  giving  them  the  balance  of  the  oats,  and  let 
them  munch  on  the  hay  left  in  the  rack  until  morning.  This  is 
diet  enough,  for  one  day,  for  horses  that  do  not  travel  twenty 
miles  a  day,  and  do  that  at  their  leisure ;  a  few  nicely  washed  car- 
rots, given  once  or  twice  a  week,  will  improve  their  coat,  be  of  as- 
sistance to  their  wind  and  stomach,  and  they  will  show  signs  of 
gratitude  to  the  donor.  A  handful  of  clover,  meadow  grass,  young 
corn,  cut  young,  will  cool  their  blood  and  greatly  please  them, 
making  them  fond  of  the  hand  that's  kind  to  them. 

Medicine  in  man  as  well  as  horses  is,  as  a  rule,  a  humbug,  for 
the  more  they  get  the  more  they  need ;  'avoid  it  if  possible,  and, 
above  all  things,  drive  quackery  out  of  your  thoughts ;  if  the  ani- 
mals do  a  hard  day's  work,  and  look  played  out  from  over  exer- 
tion, make  them  a  bran  mash,  and  pour  a  quart  of  good  ale  into 
it.  This  will  do  them  more  good  than  all  the  drugs  in  a  corner 
store. 

It  will  be  found  always  best  n^er  to  work  horses  for  two  hour* 
after  eating,  for  more  horses  have  been  ruined  and  foundered  by 
being  worked  hard  on  a  full  belly,  than  from  every  other  cause 
thit  can^be  put  together. 

The  hai'der  the  work,  the  sounder  the  food,  is  the  right  motto 


44  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

for  every  owner  to  follow,  and  in  this  case,  his  oats  should  be  mul- 
tiplied, and  his  hay  held  back  a  little.  Dry  hay  is  injurious  to 
the  wind,  but  oats  can  be  given  with  a  free  will  to  a  game  and 
hard  worker.  Moistening  the  hay  and  oats,  and  adding  a  little 
salt  to  their  food,  once  in  awhile,  will  be  found  to  work  well,  as 
horses  are  very  fond  of  salt  and  it  gives  their  food  a  relish,  and 
creates  an  appetite. 

A  great  many  horsemen  have  a  fondness  for  nitre,  and  give  it 
in  the  food,  for  the  purpose  of  producing  a  fine  coat ;  but  the  wise 
owner  will  shun  it,  as  finally  it  will  injure  the  horse  as  much  as 
opium  injures  the  man. 

Water  is  the  horse's  greatest  blessing,  and  should  be  given  to 
him  in  abundance,  when  he  is  cool  and  quiet,  but  never  when 
overheated,  or  immediately  before  going  to  work,  or  after  coming 
from  work.  If  I  were  fitting  up  a  stable,  I  should  have  a  water 
trough  in  every  stall,  with  pure  water  running  through  it  all  the 
time,  and  let  the  horse  help  himself  at  his  leisure.  Of  course, 
when  heated,  jaded,  or  tired  out,  I  would  not  allow  him  in  the 
stall,  but  would  place  him  in  another  where  there  was  no  water, 
and  kept  for  that  especial  purpose.  This  theory  may  be  excepted 
to,  on  the  ground  that  the  horse  would  drink  too  much  and  extend 
his  stomach;  but  this  objection  I  will  answer  right  now,  by  say- 
ing, that  the  horse  is  more  temperate,  and  less  of  a  glutton  than 
a  man,  for  he  never  drinks  unless  he  is  thirsty,  and  when  he  has 
enough,  he  knows  when  to  stop.  To  be  sure,  if  water  was  allowed 
to  lie  in  the  trough,  or  vessel,  it  would  become  stale,  and  full  of 
impurities,  which  would  injure  the  horse  if  he  drank  it ;  but  the 
noble  animal  is  too  particular  about  what  he  eats  and  drinks,  and 
nnclean  water  he  would  not  touq^.  My  idea,  however,  is  to  have 
a  full  continual  flow  of  fresh,  pure  water,  passing  through  a  pipe, 
or  in  any  other  way  that  is  convenient,  which  would  supply  all  the 
troughs  alike ;  and  having  a  waste  pipe  underneath  to  oarry  off 
the  underflow  to  some  pond  or  cistern  where  such  water  could  be 


HINTS    AND   HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  45 

used  for  other  purposes.  This  could  be  accomplished  at  a  Bmall 
expense,  and  in  the  end  the  owner  would  be  compensated  in  the 
health  of  his  stock,  and  in  enjoying  the  horse's  enjoyment  in  being 
kept  cool  by  the  running  waters,  and  in  being  able  to  keep  him- 
self without  neighing  or  nickering  for  assistance. 

In  traveling  long  distances,  for  the  first  six  miles  of  the  journey, 
he  should  be  driven  at  an  easy  gait,  to  aid  his  digestion ;  then 
his  pace  may  be  made  more  lively,  until  nearing  his  destination 
or  feeding  place,  when  he  should  be  eased  up,  and  allowed  to  end 
his  trip  a  little  cool.  While  traveling,  the  horse  ought  to  be 
watered  every  ten  miles,  and  this  will  not  hurt  him,  if  the  trip  is 
immediately  continued ;  and  a  good  rule  would  be  to  put  a  few 
handfuls  of  com  meal  in  the  water,  with  a  little  salt  added  ;  and 
this  will  not  only  prevent  a  chill,  but  at  the  same  time  feel  like 
a  solid  meal.  Although  horses  are  the  most  temperate  animals 
living,  whether  of  the  human  or  brute  creation,  still  they  have 
never  been  known  to  join  any  Society;  and  when  on  a  long  jour- 
ney, a  cut  of  rye  bread,  steeped  in  ale,  will  do  them  more  good 
than  five  quarts  of  oats ;  and  perhaps  they  won't  like  it !  Try 
them. 

When  traveling,  even  if  it  is  inconvenient  to  yourself,  remem- 
ber the  friend  who  is  to  obey  your  bidding,  and  carry  you  safely 
to  the  end  of  your  journey.  Have  a  httle  respect  and  consideration 
for  him,  and  start  at  early  daylight,  and  travel  until  eleven  o'clock ; 
then  rest  until  five,  and  drive  until  nine  ;  and  at  this  rate,  if  treated 
kindly,  and  too  much  whip  is  not  used,  he  will  do  his  forty  miles 
a  day,  for  a  month  in  succession,  without  injuring  him  in 
any  way. 

When  the  day's  journey  is  ended,  and  the  horse  should  look 
somewhat  tired,  give  him  some  thick,  luke-warm  gruel,  as  soon 
as  possible ;  and  when  cooled  off,  clean  him  well,  giving  him  a 
bit  of  hay  to  play  with  ;  then  properly  blanket  him,  and  bandage 
his  legs,  and  after  this   is   all   over,   give  him  his  rations  of 


46  HINTS    AND    HELPS   TO   HORSEMEN. 

water  and  oats ;  a  good  bed,  and  sufficient  hay,  and  on  the  mor- 
row, he  will  be  as  fresh  as  a  daisy,  and  eager  to  continue  the 
journey. 

As  said  before,  a  horse  ought  to  be  fed  according  to  his  work ; 
but  no  matter  whether  his  condition  be  high  or  low,  good  feeding 
will  pay  in  the  end ;  and  this  point  the  reader  can  bet  on. 


CHAPTER    TWELFTH. 

THE   STABLE   AND   ITS   ATTENDANTS. 

Our  climate  is  so  changeable,  and  the  extremes  are  so  far  apart, 
that  the  importance  of  this  question  is  undeniable.  To  be  of  genu- 
ine good,  the  stable,  in  summer,  must  be  airy,  cool  and  open,  so  that 
a  continual  flow  of  fresh  air  can  pass  through  all  day  long ;  and  in 
winter  it  should  be  warm,  free  from  all  draughts,  except  what  is 
needed  for  ventilation.  Hi  vapors,  and  such  like,  arising  from 
natural  consequences,  should  be  abolished  by  pure  ventilation ;  and 
the  horse  should  never  be  allowed  to  stand  in  his  own  litter,  be- 
cause it  breeds  what  is  called  the  scratches. 

The  light  should  be  perfect,  since  it  is  real  cruelty  to  animals  to 
keep  them  in  the  dark,  depressing  their  spirits,  injuring  their 
health,  and  very  often  causing  blindness.  As  horses  are  of  a  cheer- 
ful disposition,  sociable  in  their  manner,  and  full  of  joy  when  a 
known  friend  approaches,  it  is  a  shame  and  a  sin  to  hide  the  light 
of  day  from  them ;  for  the  Maker  of  all  made  the  light,  not  for 
man  alone,  but  for  all  living  animals. 

The  best  public  stable,  where  eighty  or  one  hundi'ed  horses  are 
kept  continually,  I  have  ever  seen,  is  in  the  city  of  Austin,  Texas. 
The  stable  was  built  purposely  for  the  comfort  and  health  of  the 
horses;  and  as  the  owner,  Monroe  Miller,  takes  not  only  pride,  but 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HOESEMEK.  47 

interest,  in  the  dumb  animals  he  owns,  I  take  pleasure  in  recording 
the  fact.  His  stable  proper  is  160  x  50,  and  every  stall  has  its  win- 
dow over  the  horse's  head,  with  a  miniature  awning,  to  lower  when 
the  sun  reaches  that  side.  The  ventilation  is  perfect ;  and  the  drain- 
age is  all  that  could  be  desired ;  and  what  is  the  result  ?  When  the 
epizootic  was  playing  havoc  with  horseflesh  in  Texas,  Mr.  Miller 
did  not  lose  a  horse ;  but,  instead,  it  was  the  talk  of  the  little  city. 
Cleanliness,  light  and  ventilation  saved  him,  while  in  other  stables 
king  Death  was  snatching  them  away  in  a  fearful  hurry.  To  keep  a 
noble  and  useful  horse  in  a  dark  stable  and  then  let  him  out  in  a 
hot  summer  sun,  with  the  glare  suddenly  striking  the  eyes,  is 
— what  ?    Well,  I  would  not  like  to  say. 

No  stable,  nor  any  part  of  one,  should  be  under  ground ;  and  it 
should  have  sufficient  drainage,  with  a  fall  to  every  drain  of  an  inch 
to  every  yard,  to  carry  off  the  liquid  filth  of  every  stall. 

When  this  is  looked  at  in  its  right  light,  the  fanner  or  breeder  can 
see  at  a  glance  how*he  can  save  money  by  looking  after  the  comfort 
of  his  animals.  A  few  hundred  dollars  expended  in  this  way  would 
save  thousands  in  time ;  for  when  stock  is  taken  sick,  the  surgeon  is 
called  in,  medicine  is  procured,  the  services  of  the  sick  horse  is  lost, 
and,  take  it  all  in  all,  at  the  end  of  a  few  years  it  would  cost  the  farm- 
er or  breeder  more  money  in  trying  to  keep  his  horses  well  than  it 
would  to  build  a  proper  stable,  and  keep  his  animals  in  good  health. 
Cobble  stones,  or  red  brick  laid  edgewise,  makes  the  best  flooring 
for  a  stable.  A  good  sized  frame  building,  loosely  weather-boarded 
externally,  lined  at  the  distance  of  one  foot  with  grooved  and 
tongued  inch  boards,  and  having  the  intervening  space  filled  with 
tan  bark,  will  make  a  first-class  country  stable,  because  it  will  be 
cool  in  summer  and  warm  in  winter. 

"  Cleanliness  is  next  to  godliness,"  the  old  saw  says ;  and  be- 
cause some  horses,  after  a  hard  day's  work  in  the  field,  or  on  the 
farm,  are  turned  out  to  seek  a  resting  place  in  the  pasture,  is  no  rea- 
son why  they  should  not  be  kept  clean.     Cleanliness  adds  to  health, 


48  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

and  they,  one  and  all,  ought  to  be  thoroughly  cleaned  daily,  no 
matter  whether  they  are  turned  out  or  in. 

Rubbing  with  the  currycomb  or  brush  circulates  the  blood,  and 
makes  healthy  perspiration ;  and  no  horse  will  carry  a  fine  coat 
without  it.  The  farmer  will  see  the  necessity  of  having  his  horse 
washed  and  curried  every  morning  before  breakfast,  when  I  tell 
him  that  it  will  increase  the  spirits  of  the  animal,  and  in  fitting 
him  for  his  day's  labor  ;  and  when  he  is  brought  home  at  night,  wet 
through,  covered  with  mud,  and  generally  filthy  after  a  hard  day's 
work,  in  bad  weather ;  the  man  who  does  not  see  that  horse 
cleaned  off,  and  made  comfortable,  is  not  fit  to  belong  to  the  So- 
ciety for  the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Animals.  If  a  horse  is 
freely  fed  when  in  that  state,  inflammation  of  the  lungs  or  bowels, 
and  colic  will  certainly  follow ;  and  if  he  is  not  cleaned,  the 
*'  scratches  "  are  the  natural  consequence. 

The  temperature  of  a  stable  should  not  be  above  65  degrees,  and 
the  air  should  be  very  dry  ;  for  any  kind  of  moisture  in  the  stable 
will  hang  around  the  horses  like  a  mist ;  and  when  the  animals  are 
brought  into  the  air,  they  will  shiver  just  as  if  they  had  a  chill. 

Whenever  the  weather  permits,  the  horse  should  be  dressed  in 
the  open  air,  for  it  braces  him  up  to  a  degree  that  is  astonishing  ; 
and  I  have  never  yet  seen  the  necessity  of  the  attendant  using  the 
currycomb  as  if  he  was  trying  to  tear  the  poor  animal's  skin  all  to 
pieces.  Such  cruelty  ought  to  be  prevented,  and  such  stablemen 
ought  never  to  be  allowed  to  take  a  comb  in  their  hands ;  but, 
instead,  give  them  a  hair  cloth,  with  which  they  can  be  as  rough 
as  they  please,  and  it  won't  hurt  the  horse  half  as  bad.  In  dressuig 
the  horse,  the  head  should  be  first  attended  to,  and  the  hair  should 
be  lifted  gently,  and  combed  lightly ;  the  ears  should  be  pulled 
gently  with  the  hand,  and  then  the  whole  head  should  be  washed 
carefully  and  tenderly ;  for  there  is  no  animal  living,  except  the 
dog,  that  appreciates  kindness  more  than  the  horse.  After  the  bal- 
ance of  his  body  is  gone  over  in  like  manner,  he  should  be  wiped 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  49 

with  clean  straw  till  he  becomes  glossy ;  and  then,  when  his  clothes 
are  put  on,  the  legs  can  be  cleaned  in  the  same  way.  When  the 
horse  is  brought  in  wet  and  exhausted,  and  signs  of  inflammation 
show,  steep  a  flannel  bandage  in  cold  water,  wring  it  out,  and  fast- 
en loosely  to  the  legs.  Then  cover  with  a  linen  bandage,  drawn 
tight,  and  all  signs  of  inflammation  will  pass  away. 

This  is  about  all  that  can  be  said  in  favor  of  the  horse's  health  ; 
by  attending  to  his  comfort  and  wants,  and  by  following  the  advice 
given,  the  farmer,  or  owner,  will  be  repaid  ;  yea  !  a  hundred  fold. 


CHAPTER  THIRTEENTH. 

THE  PROPER  WAY  TO  BREAK  A  HORSE. 

In  the  United  States  there  is  not  one  horse  in  fifty  that  is  prop- 
erly broken,  because  the  stock  raiser  takes  no  pains  in  educating 
him,  being  merely  satisfied  if  the  horse  will  pull  a  load,  or  take 
kindly  to  a  saddle  being  placed  on  his  back,  expecting  all  the  time 
that  some  buyer  will  come  along  and  take  him  off  his  hands. 
Now,  this  is  all  wrong,  for  a  horse  is  like  a  human  being  in  this 
respect ;  for  when  a  colt,  he  is  like  a  child,  and  will  learn  anything 
you  tell  him,  providing  the  master  does  it  all  in  kindness.  "As 
the  twig  is  bent,  so  grows  the  tree,"  and  this  can  be  said  with  truth 
about  the  horse ;  for  when  young,  he  is  flexible,  and  ready  to  fol- 
low where  a  good  master  leads ;  naturally  good  natured  and  willing, 
until  made  vicious  by  the  tricks  of  bad  boys ;  and  there  is  many  a 
bad  horse  to-day  who  would  eat  his  own  master  up  if  he  had  a 
good  chance,  that  would  have  been  kind  of  temper  and  docile  as  a 
lamb,  had  it  not  been  for  the  aforesaid  boys.  Now  this  ought 
never  to  be  allowed ;  boys  should  be  punished  for  punishing  the 

horse. 

3 


50  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

A  horse  to  be  properly  broken,  must  be  under  the  complete 
control  of  his  rider,  or  driver.  He  must  be  taught  to  carry  his 
whole  anatomy  in  the  easiest  manner  possible,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
be  graceful  in  carriage.  His  neck  must  be  like  whalebone,  yield- 
ing to  hand  pressure,  and  returning  the  head  to  its  natural  place 
the  moment  the  hand  is  taken  off.  He  must  not  have  M'hat  is  call- 
ed hardness  of  the  mouth  ;  but  if  he  should  resist  the  pressure  of 
the  bit,  it  must  be  from  high  spirits  and  courage,  and  his  mouth 
feel  to  the  touch  like  satin. 

He  must  change  his  step  at  the  bid  of  his  driver,  and  must  obey 
every  word  atid  touch  of  his  owner 

How  is  this  to  be  done?  He  should  be  handled  by  different 
persons,  and  be  made  acquainted  with  everything  connected  with 
harness,  and  then  he  will  not  be  likely  to  run  away,  when  any  of  the 
gear  or  trappings  give  way. 

While  suckling,  they  should  be  coaxed  and  petted ; .  eating  an 
apple  or  carrot  from  the  hands,  and  taught  so,  that  they  would  be 
afraid  of  nothing.  A  headstall  having  a  ring  attached,  to  which 
a  halter  can  be  made  fast,  ought  to  be  thrown  over  them,  and  then 
they  would  learn  to  follow  the  person  leading  them  in  any  pace 
desired. 

Shortly  after  this,  there  may  be  strapped  on  their  back  a  blanket 
for  a  shoi't  time  daily  ;  and  after,  have  stirrups  and  straps,  which 
ought  to  be  allowed  to  swing  about  loose,  and  then  he  will  be  proof 
against  fear,  when  the  proper  time  comes  to  saddle  him  in  earnest. 
When  he  is  a  year  old,  the  bit  should  be  put  in  his  mouth  once  or 
twice  a  day  ;  and  he  should  be  allowed  to  play  with  it. 

After  this,  the  colt  should  be  worked  in  a  circle,  in  a  grass  field, 
having  attached  to  the  bit  a  cord  long  enough  to  give  him  plenty 
of  swing,  and  in  this  way  the  trainer  can  make  him  do  his  bidding ; 
stopping  short  when  called  on,  or  starting  off  on  a  gallop  ;  but  the 
operator  must  be  a  man  of  patience,  and,  above  all,  good  nature ; 
and  if  such  is  the  case,  the  balance  is  only  a  matter  of  time. 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  51 

A  great  many  people  put  their  horses  to  work  too  young,  and 
thereby  kill  all  the  life  and  spirit  in  them  ;  whereas,  if  they  would 
not  task  the  colt  with  any  work  that  was  not  actually  demanded 
in  exercise,  before  he  is  five  years  old,  they  will  add  from  eight 
to  ten  years  to  his  lease  of  life,  and  really  get  more  work  out  of 
him. 

Following  this  advice  will  end  all  the  trouble  in  breaking  a  colt  ; 
and  as  for  putting  him  in  harness,  all  that  is  necessary,  is  to  hitch 
him  up  alongside  of  an  old  horse,  on  a  light  farm  wagon,  handle 
him  easy,  speak  to  him  in  kindness,  and  he  will  soon  know  what 
you  want  him  to  do. 

A  wild  colt  who  has  had  a  picnic  during  his  early  years,  should 
be  kept  in  the  stable  for  a  week,  and  by  degrees  made  acquainted 
with  harness,  wearing  it  for  an  hour  or  two  each  day.  If  it  is 
not  in  the  power  of  the  trainer  to  harness  him  alongside  of  a 
gentle  horse,  then  he  should  be  shown  the  wagon,  and  allowed  to 
smell  it  until  it  became  familiar  to  him,  and  then  he  can  be  hitched 
up  alone  without  any  danger  ;  lead  him  kindly,  speak  to  him  gently, 
and  assist  him  by  getting  hold  of  the  shaft  and  pulling  it  along,  so 
as  the  weight  of  the  wagon  will  not  come  on  him  of  a  sudden,  and 
he  will  become  gradually  used  to  it,  and  in  the  end  rather  like 
it.  This  is  the  proper  way  to  train  a  horse,  and  unless  the  colt  is 
very  vicious  from  ill  treatment,  this  mode  will  prove  a  certainty. 

The  wagon  and  harness  should  be  very  strong,  so  as  there  would 
be  no  chance  of  breaking ;  for  an  accident  like  that  might  work 
serious  injury  to  the  horse  in  after  times,  because  he  never  for- 
gets anything  that  frightens  him.  Do  not  whip  him  if  possible, 
try  the  gentler  method  ;  but  if  you  do  whip  him,  don't  let  him  think 
you  are  playing  with  him.  If  the  horse  is  trained  to  the  saddle 
first,  so  much  the  better ;  but,  if  that  cannot  be  done,  the  above 
instructions,  if  carried  out,  will  compensate  the  person  following 
them. 


62  HINTS  AND  HELPS  TO  HORSEMEN. 

THE  PROPER  WAY  TO  WORK  A  HORSE. 

There  never  was  a  greater  mistake  made  than  to  say,  that  a  man 
who  owns  a  horse,  and  drives  a  horse,  knows  all  about  a  horse ; 
for  in  a  majority  of  cases,  it  is  the  very  reverse.  There  are  two 
classes  of  horses :  work  and  pleasure ;  and  all  horses  who  do 
pulling  and  hauling  heavy  loads,  are  termed  work  horses,  and  the 
balance  are  horses  of  pleasure.  It  need  only  be  said  of  working 
horses,  that  they  should  be  well  cleaned  and  fed,  have  their 
regular  hours  of  rest,  and  plenty  of  time  before  their  work  com- 
mences, to  digest  their  food.  It  is  a  mistake  to  say,  that  horses, 
having  a  long  jom-ney  to  go,  are  benefited  by  being  driven  slowly  ; 
for  if  the  road  be  good,  the  weather  not  too  warm,  and  the  load 
not  very  heavy,  it  will  be  better  to  drive  him  at  the  rate  of  eight 
miles  an  hour  than  at  five  miles  an  hour ;  for  then  he  will  get  to 
his  stable  sooner,  be  fed  earlier,  and  have  a  longer  rest  for  the 
trials  of  to-morrow. 

Of  course,  the  work  of  farm  horses  is  generally  slow,  and  they 
do  not  need  the  same  attention  as  fast  working  horses,  and  can  be 
fed  and  watered  at  almost  any  time  ;  but  with  horses  of  pleasure, 
everything  is  different ;  for  as  a  rule,  they  are  in  the  stable  three- 
fourths  of  the  time,  and  should  never  be  taken  out  or  driven  on 
full  stomachs ;  which  there  is  never  any  necessity  for  ;  for  if  the 
stable  man  is  apprized  of  their  going  out,  he  can  fix  the  feeding, 
time  to  suit  the  convenience  of  the  horses.  When  harnessed,  and 
the  driver  seated,  he  should  never  send  them  off  with  a  jerk,  or 
strike  them  with  a  whip ;  but  by  speaking  to  them  kindly,  allow 
them  to  increase  their  speed  by  degrees  ;  but  never  force  it. 

A  steady  pace,  say  ten  miles  an  horn*,  is  more  preferable  than 
sending  them  along  by  fits  and  starts.  The  less  punishment  a 
horse  gets,  the  better  for  all  parties ;  although  it  is  true,  that  a  lazy 
horse  along  with  a  free  one,  must  be  kept  up  to  his  work ;  or  else 
the  latter  will  be  "  played  out  "  before  half  the  trip  is  ended  ;  and 
in  this  case,  the  whip  must  be  used  ;  but  do  it  gently,  so  as  to  re- 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  53 

mind  him  of  his  duty,  but  do  not  hurt  him  ;  and  in  no  case  should 
the  whip  be  given  to  a  horse  that  is  exhausted,  for  no  good  is 
gained  by  it;  while  the  result  may  be  bad.  Fear  of  the  whip 
causes  sudden  starting  and  stumbling,  and  as  the  whip  cannot 
cure  it,  do  not  use  it ;  but  get  somebody  to  hold  the  horse's  head, 
and  when  3'ou  are  readj'',  let  the  man  lead  him  along  easily,  and  in 
this  way  he  will  get  broke  off  it,  after  a  while. 

A  good  driver,  going  at  the  rate  of  ten  miles  an  hour,  will  not 
drive  up  hill  and  down  hill  at  the  same  rate,  but  will  guide  him- 
self according  to  the  road ;  and  ease  them  up  in  rough  places.  If 
traveling  fast,  horses  should  have  a  sip  of  water  every  hour ;  and 
if  going  a  long  distance,  one  feed  in  the  centre  of  the  journey  will 
be  sufficient.  As  said  before,  kindness  goes  a  long  way  with  a 
horse.    This  is  the  best  point  I  can  give  you,  and  do  not  forget  it. 


CHAPTER  FOURTEENTH. 

SIMPLE  DISEASES  CURED  BY  SIMPLE  METHODS. 

Too  much  medicine  given  a  horse,  acts  upon  hhu  the  same  as  it 
does  in  man  ;  for  the  more  he  gets,  the  more  he  requires  ;  and,  in 
fact,  instead  of  relieving  his  complaint,  it  only  adds  to  it.  I  know 
this  by  experience  ;  for  once  upon  a  time,  I  imagined  that  I  had  all 
the  ills  that  flesh  is  heir  to,  and  the  more  I  doctored,  the  worse  I 
got ;  until  I  happened  to  fall  in  the  hands  of  Doctor  Longrigg,  of 
this  city,  who,  in  his  own  blunt  manner,  told  me  up  and  down 
that  medicine,  as  a  rule,  was  a  grand  humbug,  and  the  less  a  man 
took,  the  better  he  would  be  off.  Acting  on  his  advice,  I  abstained 
from  di'ugs  of  all  kinds ;  and  from  that  time  to  this  I  have  continu- 
ed to  improve  in  health,  and  am  now  as  healthy  as  any  man  ought 
to  be.  I  refer  to  this,  believing  that  man  and  horse  are  construct- 
ed alike,  and  the  less  medicine  either  get,  the  better  for  both. 

But  there  are  times  when  simple  purgatives  will  clean  out  the 
system,  and  be  a  benefit  to  any  animal ;  and,  in  my  opinion,  the 
simplest  is  the  best ;  so  I  prefer  the  Homoepathic  system ;  but  as 
many  believe  in  the  other  kind  of  treatment,  I  will  try  to  give  the 
easiest  and  best  remedies  for  all  diseases  contained  in  both  systems. 

In  any  case,  never  allow  a  stable  attendant  to  dose  a  horse  unless 
the  owner  is  present ;  for  there  are  more  quacks  centered  in  and 
around  stables,  who  have  special  cures  of  their  own  for  all  diseases ; 
and  of  all  their  cures  there  is  not  one  that  is  reliable. 

The  best  way  to  do  in  all  cases  is,  to  call  in  the  best  medical  au- 
thority and  leave  the  horse  in  his  hands ;  and  if  he  has  any  repu- 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 


65 


tation  to  lose,  you  can  bet  that  he  will  do  his  utmost  to  cure  that 
horse.  There  is  nothing  wonderfully  secret  in  the  diseases  of  the 
horse  ;  and  any  man  of  book  sense,  and  common  intelligence,  can 
manage  the  case  himself,  providing  he  is  not  in  sti  iking  distance 
of  a  veterinary  surgeon. 

A  man  may  lose  a  pint  of  blood  and  not  miss  it ;  but  take  five 
quarts  from  a  horse  and  you  can  study  the  result.  We  believe  in 
mashes,  no  matter  what  the  complaint  is ;  and  purgation  caused  by 
drugs,  we  detest. 

In  colic,  inflammation  of  the  bowels  and  lungs,  relief  must  be 
instant ;  but  as  colic  and  inflammation  of  the  bowels  are  almost 
similar,  when  first  appealing,  great  caution  should  be  exercised  by 
the  owner. 

Youatt  presents  the  two  complaints  in  tabular  form,  as  follows  : 


Colic. 

Sudden  in  its  attack,  and  witliout 
any  warning.  Pulse  rarely  quick- 
ened, in  the  early  period  of  the  dis- 
ease and  during  the  intervals  of 
ease;  but  evidently  fuller. 

Legs  and  ears  of  natural  temper- 
ature. 

Relief  obtained  from  rubbing  the 
belly. 

Relief  obtained  from  motion. 


Intervals  of  rest  and  ease. 
Strength  scarcely  affected. 


Inflammation  of  the  Bowels. 

Gradual  in  its  approach,  with  indi- 
cations of  fever.  Pulse  much  quick- 
ened, but  small,  and  often  scarcely 
to  be  felt. 


Legs  and  ears  cold. 

Belly  exceedingly  painful,  and  ten- 
der to  the  touch. 

Pain  evidently  increased  by  mo- 
tion. 

Constant  pain. 

Great  and  evident  weakness. 


The  remission  of  pain  in  the  one  and  the  increase  in  the  other, 
will  show,  to  the  practiced  hand  and  eye,  the  difference  in  each. 
Weakness  never  comes  in  colic,  but  shows  rapidly  in  inflammation. 
The  pulse  of  the  horse  is  felt  at  the  lower  jaw,  near  the  junction 
of  the  neck  and  head  ;  place  the  thumbs  on  the  cheek,  outside, 
with  the  nail  turned  upv/ards,  and  pass  the  tips  of  the  fingers 


56  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

under  and  inside  the  jawbone,  feeling  the  artery,  and  ascertaining 
the  beating  of  the  pulse,  and  counting  the  number  given  in  a 
minute. 

Thirty-five  in  a  minute  is  the  ayerage  in  temperate  climates ; 
and  in  Texas  it  ranges  ten  degrees  higher  ;  but  very  often  excite- 
ment causes  a  sudden  quickening  of  the  pulse,  and  the  attendant 
should  be  as  tender  and  fond  as  possible,  so  as  to  avoid  any  un- 
necessary alarm.  Giving  green  corn  or  cold  vv^ater,  when  the  horse^ 
is  heated,  will  produce  both  colic  and  inflammation.  If  the  horse 
has  colic,  give  at  once,  in  liquid,  held  in  a  bottle,  an  ounce  of  lauda- 
num and  three  ounces  of  spirits  of  turpentine,  in  a  pint  of  warm 
ale ;  and  in  an  instant  the  cure  will  be  perfect.  An  injection  of 
warm  water,  in  which  is  dissolved  an  ounce  of  Barbadoes  aloes, 
will  put  a  stop  to  spasms.  Eub  the  belly  well  with  a  hot  flannel  cloth 
and  walk  the  horse  gently  afterwards,  and  the  trouble  will  be  over 
in  a  few  moments.  As  the  horse's  blankets  will  be  covered  with  per- 
spiration, he  should  be  put  in  a  roomy  box  and  fed  on  bran  mashes 
for  a  few  days,  and  made  to  drink  warm  water,  and  nothing  else. 

Bleeding  is  the  best  thing  for  inflammation  of  the  bowels ;  for 
after  taking  ten  quarts  from  him,  the  swelhng  will  subside.  Give 
him  all  the  warm  water  and  thin  gruel  he  will  take,  with  two 
drachms  of  aloes  dissolved  in  the  water. 

Tincture  of  cantharides  is  an  excellent  blister,  well  rubbed  in 
on  his  belly.  The  horse  should  be  kept  warm,  with  his  legs  band- 
aged, and  the  blood  will  begin  to  circulate  ;  but  above  all  things, 
give  him  no  grain,  nothing  but  mashes ;  and  after  he  re- 
covers, a  handful  of  oats,  three  times  a  day,  will  do  no  harm.  Fever 
and  cold  limbs  always  comes  before  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  and 
he  will  never  lie  down,  day  or  night,  and  appears  languid  and 
careless  about  moving  about ;  and  he  will  stand  until  he  drops 
dead.  In  this  case  the  horse  must  be  bled,  until  he  gets  tired  of 
standing  ;  and  part  of  the  blood  should  be  held  in  a  glass  which, 
when  cold,  will  show  a  thick  buff  color.    Blister  him  with  a  pre- 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  57 

paration  made  out  of  four  parts  of  lard,  one  of  rosin,  and  one  of 
cantharides,  and  rub  strong  and  bard.  Melt  the  lard  and  rosin  to- 
gether and  add  the  flies.  Purging  is  not  necessary  in  this  case  ; 
but  a  dose  of  nitre  and  tartar  emetic  given  morning  and  evening 
will  be  of  great  benefit  to  the  horse.  Keep  him  in  a  cool  box  with 
legs  well  bandaged,  warmly  blanketed,  and  rub  his  skin  without 
irritating  him.  The  great  desideratum,  mashes,  should  be  given 
}  im;  but  no  grain. 

This  disease  generally  ends  in  broken  wind,  and  the  sooner  he  is 
got  rid  of,  the  better  for  his  owner ;  but  all  simple  diseases  such  as 
a  cough,  constipation,  worms,  distemper,  strangles,  etc.,  should 
be  cured  by  the  owner  himself,  with  common  medicines,  which 
can  be  had  of  any  druggist  ;  and  buy  the  same  medicine  you 
would  use  yourself,  if  having  any  of  those  complaints.  As  I  have 
said  many  a  time  before,  cleanliness  and  proper  food  knocks  the 
life  out  of  all  disease ;  and  if  the  farmer  or  breeder  adheres  to  the 
first  principles  of  health,  there  will  be  little  need  of  medicine. 

Bleeding  is  generally  done  in  the  jugular  vein,  with  a  broad 
bladed  lancet ;  and  when  the  vein  is  sufficiently  pressed  and  se- 
cured, so  as  to  cause  it  to  swell,  then  the  point  of  the  lancet  is 
sent  in  with  the  left  hand,  and  cutting  upwards,  makes  all  the  open- 
ing necessary.  When  sufficient  blood  is  taken,  the  cut  ought  to  be 
squeezed  together  and  fastened  with  a  pin.  By  pressing  the  vein 
below  the  wound,  the  blood  will  shoot  out  in  a  stream  and  fall 
clear  into  the  bucket  ready  to  receive  it ;  and  it  would  be  a  good 
thing  if  the  same  pail  was  used  every  time  ;  as  the  amateur  sur- 
geon would  be  more  likely  to  know  how  much  it  would  hold. 

Medicine  if  given  in  balls  should  never  be  more  than  an  ounce  and 
a  half  in  weight.  Take  the  ball  in  the  right  hand,  and  with  the  bare 
arm,  run  into  the  mouth  as  far  as  possible,  drop  the  ball  with  a 
jerk,  and  then  it  is  forced  down  the  throat ;  but  if  it  should  get 
fast,  touch  the  chin  in  a  playful  mood,  and  away  it  goes. 

Purgatives  I  do  not  believe  in,  as  a  general  rule ;  but  as  desperate 


58  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

cases  require  desperate  remedies,  I  will  say  that  aloes,  fresh,  are 
the  safest  I  know  of.  Five  drachms  is  a  dose  at  any  time,  and  if 
the  horse  should  be  fed  for  a  few  days  on  my  favorite  mashes,  a 
small  dose  of  aloes  will  do  as  much  good  as  a  large  one ;  if  the 
horse  has  not  had  his  mashes,  avoid  castor,  oUve,  and  linseed  oils, 
as  you  would  a  plague;  for  although  some  smart  jockeys  still  use 
those  horrid  dangerous  di'ugs,  they  are  no  good,  and  very  likely 
will  do  harm. 

The  best  remedy  for  constipation  I  have  ever  seen  used,  was  the 
private  invention  of  my  friend  Sam  Richards,  in  Austin,  Texas ; 
and  what  those  people  don't  know  of  a  horse,  is  not  worth  know- 
ing; it  was  merely  an  injection  of  suds,  made  out  of  Castile 
soap,  having  a  little  Croton  oil  mixed  with  it.  Mashes,  warmth 
and  cleanliness  will  cure  a  sudden  or  common  cough,  but  darn 
the  medicine ;  let  it  alone. 

Distemper  is  a  common  complaint  in  a  colt  or  filly,  but,  like  the 
measles  in  children,  once  they  pass  through  it,  there  is  nothing 
more  to  fear.  If  the  poo:  horse  should  be  changed  into  a  dog,  at 
this  period  of  his  life,  the  majority  of  wise  people  would  say  that 
he  was  mad,  because  he  refused  water,  and  had  a  flow  of  saliva 
from  the  mouth,  and  a  common  discharge  from  the  mouth  ;  but 
neither  the  dog  or  horse  is  mad  in  this  stage.  Blister,  poultice  and 
steam,  and  the  end  will  not  be  far  off  :  but  always  remember,  clean- 
liness and  proper  food. 

Botts  and  worms  give  some  people  a  great  deal  of  uneasiness ; 
but  both  are  harmless  while  in  the  stomach.  Any  common  surge 
will  bring  the  white  wonn  out  of  his  hiding  place.  Aloes  and 
warm  water,  in  shape  of  injections,  are  the  best  remedy  for  those 
little  pests. 

Nitre  will  relieve  the  bladder  from  all  imperfections,  and  force 
an  easy  flow  of  water. 

The  scratches  are  caused  by  neglect  in  drying  a  horse's  feet  and 
heels,  when  wet  after  a  hard  day's  muddy  work.    If  not  taken  care 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  59 

of,  the  hair  drops  off,  the  skin  becomes  glazed,  and  the  heels  swell ; 
the  legs,  nearly  to  the  hock,  are  full  of  hard,  thick  scabs,  from 
which  matter  runs  that  is  very  offensive.  When  this  disease  first 
appears,  the  free  use  of  Castile  soap  and  luke-warm  water  will  work 
wonders ;  and  a  bandage  of  flannel,  wet  in  warm  water,  and  allowed 
to  dry  on  the  part  affected,  will  work  well.  Mix  one  ounce  of  lard 
with  a  drachm  of  sugar  of  lead,  and  anoint  the  sores  ;  while  three 
ounces  of  alum,  dissolved  in  water,  and  used  as  a  wash,  wherever 
the  cracks  appear.  All  high  food  should  be  kept  away  from  him, 
and  after  a  couple  of  days'  diet  on  bran  mashes,  five  drachms  of 
aloes  given  in  a  ball  will  effect  a  cure  ;  but  when  the  disease  is  al- 
lowed to  cure  itself,  which  it  never  does,  carrot  poultices  must  be 
put  on  very  hot ;  and,  when  taken  away,  an  equal  mixture  of  rosin 
and  lard,  melted  together,  to  which  add  one  part  of  calamus,  and 
use  as  an  ointment.  Whenever  there  is  fever,  poultices  made  out 
of  carrots  will  be  found  very  beneficial. 

Another  simple  ailment  is  known  as  the  thrush,  which  is  a  dis- 
charge of  nasty  matter  from  the  frog  of  the  foot.  Get  an  ounce  of 
white  vitriol,  two  ounces  of  blue  vitriol,  which  must  be  powdered 
very  fine,  and  rubbed  into  two  pounds  of  lard  and  one  pound  of 
tar.  Cover  a  bundle  of  tow  with  this  preparation,  and,  without 
any  force,  put  it  in  the  frog  as  far  as  you  can,  and  remove  it  every 
morning.     Keep  the  feet  moist  with  cow  dung,  tar  and  soft  clsiy. 

When  a  horse  falls  lame,  after  shoeing,  examine  the  foot  and  see 
if  the  hoof  has  not  been  pricked  by  the  driving  of  nails  into  the 
flesh.  If  so,  inflammation  will  follow,  and  the  shoe  must  be  taken 
off,  the  nail  removed,  and  the  hole  made  must  be  opened  out  by 
paring  ;  when  a  bundle  of  tow,  saturated  with  Friar's  Balsam, 
should  be  driven  into  the  hole  or  sore. 

BROKEN  KNEES. 
Where  a  knee  has  been   broken  by  a  fall,  the  wound  should 
be  washed  carefully  with  luke-warm  water,  and  all  sand,  gravel 


60  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

or  dirt  must  be  instantly  removed ;  and  if  there  is  much  swelling, 
do  not  poultice,  but  ferment  it.  Keep  everything  stimulating, 
astringent  or  warm,  in  the  way  of  poultices,  away,  and  in  a 
short  time  the  horse  will  begin  to  improve.  When  one  foot  is  in- 
jured by  the  caulks  of  the  other,  the  above  treatment  will  have  the 
same  effect.  Strains,  contusions,  or  wrenches,  ought  to  be  band- 
aged with  flannel,  steeped  in  hot  vinegar  and  water,  and  repeated 
constant  will  ensure  a  cure ;  but  when  there  is  much  swelling,  poul- 
tices of  carrots,  linseed  or  turnips,  should  be  bandaged  tightly ;  and 
when  the  inflammation  passes  away,  and  lameness  and  weakness 
continue,  that  part  ought  to  be  bandaged  nightly  with  a  cotton 
cloth,  steeped  in  cold  water,  and  tightly  wrapped  in  a  double 
flannel  above  that  part.  This  will  effect  a  permanent  cure  nine 
times  out  of  ten. 

All  simple  complaints  can  be  attended  to  and  cured  by  any  per- 
son if  the  above  advice  is  followed,  and  the  ingredients  mentioned 
can  be  found  in  every  house  ;  but  for  all  serious  accidents  or  mala- 
dies, it  would  be  nonsense  to  attempt  to  cm*e  from  simple  recipes, 
and  in  such  cases  the  best  medical  treatment  is  compulsory. 


CHAPTER  FIFTEENTH. 


HOMGEPATHY  FOR  THE  HORSE. 


Hahnemann  says:  "In  order  to  cure  a  disease,  select  such  a 
remedy  as  is  capable  of  producing  a  similar  malady  in  a  healthy 
person,  and  of  such  a  remedy  prescribe  only  a  small  dose." 

Now,  whether  this  is  so  or  not,  I  will  not  pretend  to  say ;  but 
this  much  I  do  know,  and  that  is,  that  I  would  not  like  to  be  the 
healthy  person  experimented  on ;  but  believing  that  the  simplest 
remedies  are  the  best  when  compelled  to  resort  to  medicine,  which 
I  disapprove  as  a  rule,  I  then  pin  my  faith  to  homoeopathy,  be- 
lieving that  of  the  two  systems  this  is  the  best. 

The  medicines  used  in  this  treatment  are  generally  in  liquid  form, 
and  the  greatest  care  should  be  taken  in  the  mixing.  The  ingre- 
dients can  be  purchased  at  any  drugstore,  and  are  so  cheap,  that 
the  farmer  ought  to  keep  a  full  assortment  in  a  medicine  chest ; 
and  as  each  article  will  last  for  years,  I  think  this  would  be  a  good 
policy. 

Another  reason  why  I  like  this  system  of  doctoring  is,  that  the 
name  of  each  particular  medicine  is  familiar  to  everybody,  and  if 
they  do  no  good,  they  can  do  no  possible  harm,  being  nothing  but 
herbs,  barks,  and  vegetable  matter  that  we  often  have  heard  our 
grandmother  speak  of  in  good  old  English.  What  harm  can  there 
be  in  the  following,  if  used  with  discretion : 


62 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEAIEN. 


Wolf's-Bane 

Antimony, 

Leopard's-Bane, 

Muriate  of  Ammonia, 

Arsenic, 

Deadly  Night-Shadb, 

White   Bryony, 

Carbonate  of  Lime, 

Camphor, 

Hemp, 

Spanish  Fly, 

Vegetable, 

Caustic,    y 

Chamomile  Floweb, 

Peruvian  Bark, 

Worm  Seed, 

Meadow  Saffron, 

Hemlock., 

Bitter- Sweet, 

Eye  Bright, 

SiLTER  OF  Sulphur, 

Hen  Bane, 

Ipecacuanha  Koot, 

Carbonate  of  Potash, 

Clubb  Moss, 


Corrosive  Sublimate, 

Soluble  Mercury, 

Quicksilver, 

Kitchen  Salt, 

Saltpetre, 

VoMic  Nut, 

White  Poppy, 

Phosphorus, 

Platino, 

Meadow  Anemone, 

Sumach, 

Savina, 

Spurred  Rye, 

Cuttle-Fish, 

SiLEX, 

Burnt  Sponge, 
Sea  Onion, 
Stinkweed, 
Brimstone, 
Tree  of  Life, 
White  Hellbore, 
Tartar  Emetic, 
Nitric  Acid, 
Phosphoric  Acid, 
Tincture  Sulphur. 


There  they  are,  and  where  is  the  one  that  every  country  boy  is 
not  acquainted  with  ?  As  they  are  put  up  in  liquid  shape,  take  a 
piece  of  bread,  and  put  six  drops  of  the  medicine  on  it ;  then  raise 
the  horse's  head,  press  down  the  tongue,  and  pull  it  out  as  far  as 
possible,  and  then  place  the  dose  as  far  back  as  you  can ;  close  the 
mouth  with  the  hand,  and  with  a  gentle  tip  under  the  chin,  the 
horse  will  be  compelled  to  swallow  the  piece  of  bread. 

When  the  first  dose  acts  favorably,  and  then  a  relapse  should  take 
place,  give  a  second  dose  of  the  same  medicine.  In  all  rapid 
diseases,  such  as  pneumonia,  glanders  and  pleura,  the  medicine 
should  be  given  every  five,  ten  or  fifteen  minutes.  In  serious  dis- 
eases, an  improvement  is  always  shown  after  the  first  dose,  and 
that  is  the  time  to  repeat  it,  when  the  second  dose  will,  in  all  like- 
lihood, perfect  a  cure.  When  the  disease  becomes  chronic  for  the 
time  of  four  days,  the  medicine  should  be  given  as  described  ;  but 
if  there  are  any  signs  of  the  complaint  becoming  better,  then  stop 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN,  63 

giving  medicine  for  awhile ;  repeat  the  medicine  if  the  improve- 
ment stops ;  and  if  there  should  be  no  improvement  in  a  few  days, 
change  the  medicine. 

For  burns,  bruises  and  all  other  injuries,  take  arnica,  Symphytum 
and  urtica  urens,  from  twenty  to  thirty  drops  in  half  a  pint  of 
water,  and  according  to  directions  given  use  it.  In  this  treat- 
ment, as  in  everything  else,  a  proper  diet,  and  attention  to  cleanli- 
ness will  have  great  weight  in  assisting  the  medicine  to  make  a 
cure.  Everything  that  interferes  with  the  regular  mode  of  physic- 
ing,  must  be  disregarded ;  but  simple  injections  of  salt  water  and 
soap  will  do  no  harm.  Half  an  horn-  should  intervene  between  the 
medicine  and  food. 

In  the  treatment  of  sick  animals.  Rush  says :  As  soon  as  an  animal 
becomes  sick,  let  it  be  immediately  placed  in  a  house  by  itself.  This 
is  necessary,  both  for  the  welfare  of  the  sick  animal  and  for  the 
safety  of  others.  The  house  that  the  animal  is  placed  in  ought  to 
be  warm,  well  lighted  and  ventilated,  and,  above  aU,  kept  scrup- 
ulously clean.  Let  the  person  who  attends  to  the  wants  of  the 
animal,  be  very  cautious  to  approach  in  a  quiet  manner,  never 
making  any  unnecessary  noisS^or  do  anything  to  irritate  the  ani- 
mal, w^hen  in  a  state  of  health. 

In  rapid  diseases,  no  food  should  be  given,  until  there  is  a  change 
for  the  best,  and  then  in  light  feeds. 

Bran  may  be  given  either  dry  or  wetted,  whichever  way  the 
animal  prefers  it. 

Oats  may  be  given  mixed  with  the  bran,  either  raw  or  crushed, 
or  whole  or  boiled. 

It  is  necessary  to  keep  the  animal  without  food  or  water  for  half 
an  horn-  before  and  after  administering  the  medicine. 

In  acute  diseases,  it  is  necessary  to  repeat  the  dose  every  Jivej  teUy 
fifteen  or  twenty  minutes. 

In  less  acute  diseases,  every  two,  four,  six  or  eight  hours. 

In  chronic  diseases,  once  in  twenty-four  hours  is  sufficient. 


64  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

REMEDIES   FOR    SPECIAIi   DISEASES. 

The  priacipal  mediciue  to  be  used  in  this  disease  is  Sulphur,  of 
which  six  drops  must  be  given  every  day  for  three  weeks  ;  after- 
wards, the  following  medicines  will  be  found  useful :  Arsenic, 
Outtle-Fish  and  Sumach.  If  the  hair  falls  off,  and  the  skin 
becomes  loose  and  flabby,  or  if  there  are  any  ulcers  with  hard  red 
edges,  use  Arsenic. 

Dose— Six  drops  night  and  morning. 

Cuttle-Fish,  if  the  parts  affected  are  tender,  and  the  animal 
shrinks  when  touched,  or  if  there  are  white  looking  bhsters  filled 
with  a  watery  fluid. 

Dose—Si-L  drops  night  and  morning. 

Sumach,  if  there  are  hard,  elevated  patches  or  scabs  that  do 
not  fall  off  of  themselves,  and,  if  taken  off,  others  soon  form  in 
their  places. 

Dose — Six  drops,  three  times  a  day,  until  better. 

Farcy. 

Remedies. —  Wolfs-Bane^  Arsenic,  Peruvian  Bark,  Sumach  and 
Tree  of  Life. 

Wolf's-Bane,  if  accompanied  with  fever,  in  which  case  the 
swelling  is  hot  and  painful,  the  animal  refuses  to  eat,  is  restless,  and 
moves  about  from  place  to  place. 

Dose — Six  drops  or  twelve  globules,  three  or  four  times  a  day. 

Arsenic  and  Peruvian  Bark  alternately,  if  the  swelling  is  cold. 

Dose — The  same  as  prescribed  for  wolf's-bane. 

Sumach,  if  with  hot  swelling  there  is  great  stiffness  of  limbs. 

Dose—'&ix  drops  or  eight  globules,  morning,  noon  and  night. 

Tree  of  Life,  if  there  are  any  pimples  or  hard  patches,  or  if  the 
animal  frequently  stretches  his  limbs,  and  a  crackling  is  heard  at 
the  same  time. 

Dose — The  same  as  the  last. 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  65 

Scratches. 

Remedies. — Tree  of  Life,  Spurred  Rye,  Arsenic,  Quicksilver  and 
Sulphur. 

Tree  of  Life,  both  internally  and  externally,  if  they  are  bluish 
and  brownish  excrescences,  which  bleed  on  the  least  touch,  and 
there  is  a  discharge  of  fetid  matter. 

Z)(9se— Six  drops  three  times  a  day ;  at  the  same  time  the  parts 
may  be  bathed  with  the  strong  tincture  night  and  morning. 

Spurred  Rye  and  Arsenic  may  be  used  in  alternation,  if  there  is 
a  watery  swelling  or  dark  looking  ulcers,  with  fetid  discharge. 

Dose — The  same  as  directed  in  the  last ;  internally. 

Quicksilver,  when  there  are  numerous  small  ulcers  that  dis- 
charge a  thick  matter,  and  bleed  when  touched. 

Dose — Six  or  eight  drops  twice  a  day. 

It  is  necessary  to  give  a  dose  of  Sulphur  once  a  week  during 
the  treatment,  and  keep  the    legs  clean  by  washing  them  with 
warm  water. 
Fonndler. 

Remedies. — Wolfs-Bane,  White  Bryony,  White  Hellbore,  Ar- 
senic and  Sumach. 

WolPs-Bane,  if  there  is  inflammation ;  the  animal  stands  as  if 
rooted  to  the  spot,  the  breathing  is  hm-ried  and  interrupted,  the 
breath  is  hot,  and  the  pulse  accelerated. 

Dose—^vs.  drops  every  one,  two  and  three  hours. 

White  Bryony,  complete  stiffness  of  the  limbs,  with  swelling  of 
the  joints. 

Dose — Six  drops  every  two  hours. 

White  Hellbore,  if  it  is  brought  on  by  violent  exercise. 

Dose — The  same  as  wolf's-bane. 

Arsenic,  if  it  is  caused  by  bad  or  heating  food,  or  after  a  cold 
drink  when  overheated. 

Dose — Six  drops  every  one,  two  and  three  hours. 


66  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HOESEMEN. 

Sumach,  if  there  is  much  pain  in  the  feet,  and  the  animal  is  very 
stiil  in  his  movements. 

Dose — Six  drops  or  eight  globules  three  times  a  day ;  at  the  eame 
time  the  limbs  may  be  bathed  with  a  solution  of  Sumach,  extern- 
ally, twice  a  day. 

Hidle  Boiiii<i, 

Remedies. — Arsenic^  Antimony^  Quiclcsilver  and  Sulphur. 

Arsenic,  if  there  are  hard  scurvy  patches  about  the  skin,  cold- 
ness of  the  skin,  general  emaciation  and  loss  of  strength. 

Dose — Six  drops  three  times  a  day  until  better. 

Antimony,  if  there  are  rough  scales  on  the  skin,  coat  very  rough, 
loss  of  appetite,  and  excessive  thirst. 

Dose — Six  drops  in  a  little  water  night  and  morning. 

Quicksilver,  if  the  animal  has  fits  of  shivering ;  the  hair  falls  off 
from  various  parts  and  leaves  the  skin  of  a  dull  leaden  color ;  vora- 
cious appetite,  or  unnatm-al  appetite ;  eating  of  dirty  litter  and 
even  dung. 

Dose—^YK  drops  night  and  morning. 

Sulphur,  as  an  intermediate  remedy,  may  be  given  twice  a  week 
during  the  whole  treatment. 

Dose—'^iK  drops  in  a  little  water. 

Remedies.— Tmc^i^re  of  SulpJiur,  Phosphoric  Acid,  Sea  Onion 
and  Arsenic. 

Tincture  of  Sulphur  is  considered  most  specific  for  this  disease. 

Dose — Six  drops  night  and  morning,  until  cured. 

Phosphoric  Acid  is  used  in  the  same  way,  providing  the  former 
does  not  reach  the  disease. 

Sea  Onion,  if  there  is  fever  or  inflammation  of  the  parts. 

Dose—^ix  drops  night  and  morning. 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  67 

Arsenic,  if  the  discharge  is  very  fetid,  and  there  is  lameness, 
the  foot  very  hot  and  painful. 
Dose — Six  drops  three  times  a  day. 

BXegriiixs. 

Remedies.— TF(9Z/'s-^a?i6,  Deadly  Night-Shade^  Arnica,  Opium 
and  Sulphur. 

Wolf's-Bane  will  be  serviceable,  and  may  always  be  given,  es- 
pecially if  during, an  attack  the  horse  falls  down,  and  in  trying  to 
get  up,  falls. 

Dose—Yonv  drops  every  hour  until  delivered,  after  which  it  may 
be  repeated  at  longer  intervals,  increasing  them  until  the  horse  is 
cured. 

Night-Shade,  if  the  animal  turns  quickly  around,  falls  down 
and  continues  to  struggle  and  lie  quietly. 

Dose — The  same  as  before. 

Arnica,  if  the  disease  is  supposed  to  arise  from  mechanical  in- 
jury- 
Dose — Six  drops  every  hour. 

Opium,  if  the  animal  lies  stupid  as  if  dead. 
Dose — The  same  as  the  last. 

TrLfLsLm.m.SLtliyrL  o:P"tlie  Brain- 

Remedies. — Wolf's-Bane,  Deadly  Night-Shade,  White  Hellbore 
and  Opium. 

Wolf's-Bane,  in  the  very  commencement  of  the  disease,  if  the 
pulse  is  accelerated,  fever,  congestion  towards  the  brain,  rapid 
breathing,  and  trembling  of  the  whole  body. 

Dose — Six  drops  every  twenty  minutes  until  several  doses  have 
been  taken,  or  the  violent  symptoms  have  passed  away,  after 
which  the  following  remedy  should  be  thought  of : 


68  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

Belladonna,  if  the  animal  has  a  wild  look  and  dashes  about  furi- 
ously, which  indicates  violent  congestion  of  the  brain. 

Dose — Six  drops  put  on  the  tongue  every  thirty  minutes,  until 
the  violence  is  subdued. 

White  Hellbore,  if  the  legs  and  ears  are  very  cold,  with  trem- 
bling of  the  whole  body ;  or  where  there  is  a  staggering  motion, 
and  the  horse  plunges,  falling  head  foremost. 

Dose — The  same  as  the  last. 

Opium  if,  after  the  fit,  the  horse  stands  perfectly  quiet,  with 
eyes  fixed  on  vacancy,  and  the  tongue  black  or  leaden  in  color. 
Dose — Six  drops  every  half  hour,  according  to  his  coadition. 

Oatarrli. 

Remedies. — Wolf's-Bane,  Nux  Vomica,  Bitter-Sweet,  8u7nac7i, 
White  Bryony,  Arsenic,  Quickaii'Der  and  Meadow  Anemone. 

Wolf's-Bane  will  be  useful  in  the  beginning  of  the  disease  if 
there  is  fever  and  heat  of  the  body,  restlessness,  short  breathing, 
red  urine,  thirst  violent,  and  the  nostrils  stopped  up. 

Dose — Six  drops  every  three  hours,  until  better. 

Nux  Vomica,  if  the  tongue  be  coated  white,  with  the  mouth 
dry,  a  nasty  odor  coming  from  the  mouth,  and  a  bloody  or  watery 
discharge  from  the  nose. 

Dose—'^ix  drops  twice  a  day. 

Bitter-Sweet,  if  the  attack  is  brought  on  from  exposure,  and  the 
horse  is  drowsy. 

Dose — Six  drops  twice  a  day. 

Sumach,  if  the  cough  is  short  and  the  nostrils  stuffed  up. 
Dose — Four  drops  three  times  a  day. 

White  Bryony,  if  the  breathing  is  difficult,  the  cough  dry,  and 
the  nose  swelled. 
Dose— Four  drops  three  times  a  day. 


HINTS   AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  69 

Arsenic,  if  the  discharge  continues  too  long,  tlie  nostrils  become 
corroded. 

Dose— Six  drops  twice  a  day.  , 

Quicksilver  is  good  in  the  first  stage  of  the  disease. 

Dose — Six  drops  tljree  times  a  day. 

Meadow  Anemone,  if  the  discharge  is  green  and  the  cough 
loose. 

Dose — Six  drops  three  times  a  day. 

Ooug-li. 

Remedies. — Bitter-Sweety  Nux  Vomica,  Sea  Onions,  White  Bry- 
ony, Muriate  of  Ammonia,  Meadow  Anemone  and  Gluhb  Moss. 

Bitter-Sweet,  if  the  cold  comes  from  exposure,  and  there  is  a 
slight  discharge  from  the  nose. 

Dose—FiYe,  drops  three  times  a  day. 

Nux  Vomica,  if  it  be  a  dry  cough,  and  when  leaving  the  stable  it 
commences. 

Dose — Five  drops  three  times  a  day. 

Sea  Onions,  if  the  whole  body  shakes,  and  the  horse  groans  be- 
fore coughing. 

Dose—FovLY  drops  twice  a  day. 

White  Bryony,  if  the  cough  has  lasted  for  any  length  of  time. 

Dose — Six  drops  night  and  morning. 

Muriate  of  Ammonia,  if  the  horse  is  losing  flesh,  and  about  to 
choke  or  vomit. 

Dose — Four  drops  every  three  hours. 

Meadow  Anemone,  if  from  the  cough  there  comes  a  bad  smell, 
or  the  horse  becomes  easily  frightened. 

Dose— Fowc  drops  every  three  hours. 

Olubb  Moss,  if  drinking  incites  the  cough,  and  makes  it  come 
on  in  fits. 

Dose — Six  drops  three  times  a  day. 


70  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

During  this  sickness,  raw  or  boiled  carrots  are  the  best  food  to 
give  the  horse,  with  plenty  of  oats  and  mashes  thrown  in. 
Soi*e  Throat.  • 

Remedies. —  Wolfs-Bane,  Quicksilver,  Belladonna,  Burnt  Sponge, 
Clubh  Moss  and  Sulphur. 

WolPs-Bane,  if  the  fever  is  attended  by  di  y  heat,  and  the  parts 
touched  are  red  and  swelled,  with  great  thirst  and  swallowing  not 
easy. 

Dose— Fom:  drops  every  two  hours. 

Quicksilver,  if  the  glands  of  the  neck  are  swelled,  and  much 
frothing  of  the  mouth. 

2>os(3— Six  di'ops  three  times  a  day. 

Belladonna,  if  the  breathing  is  difficult  and  the  throat  shrinks, 
with  difficulty  of  swallowing. 

Dose — Six  drops  thi'ee  times  a  day. 

Burnt  Sponge,  if  the  breathing  is  accompanied  with  a  rattling 
sound,  and  the  horse,  in  turning  his  head,  appears  to  be  suffo- 
cating. 

Dose — Six  drops  every  two  hours. 

Sulphur,  in  contrary  cases,  with  painful  swelling. 

Dose — Six  drops  night  and  morning. 

Clubb  Moss,  if  the  mouth  smells  badly,  with  sweating  and 
swelling  of  the  under  jaw. 

Dose — Six  drops  morning  and  night. 

InflaiMLnxation  of  the  Lixng'S. 

Remedies. — Wolf  s-Bane,  Phosphorus,  White  Bryony, Belladonna^ 
Tartar  Emetic,  Litter  of  Sulphur ,  Quicksilver,  Ipecacuanha,  Sumachj 
Sea  Onion  and  Sulphur. 

Wolf  s-Bane,  if  there  is  much  fever  and  a  quick  pulse,  dry  skin 
and  thirst,  this  remedy  is  considered  the  best  if  used  immediately. 

Dose—FoMT  drops  every  twenty  minutes  for  three  hours,  and 
then  lessen  the  dose. 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  71 

Phosphorous  may  be  used  after  wolf's-bane  has  eased  the  pain. 

Dose— Four  drops  ever}''  two  hours  until  the  violence  ceases. 

White  Bryony  can  be  used  if  the  breathing  be  difficult. 

Dose — The  same  as  the  last. 

Belladonna,  if  the  cough  is  dry,  and  the  breathing  difficult. 

Dose — The  same  as  the  last. 

Tartar  Emetic,  if  the  cough  comes  on  irregular,  and  the  pulse 
can  hardly  be  felt. 

Dose— Four  drops  every  three  hours. 

Liver  Sulphur,  if  abscesses  are  formed,  and  the  breathing  is 
deep. 

Dose—Six  drops  tlu-ee  times  a  day. 

Quicksilver,  if  the  cough  is  dry,  and  the  discharge  great, 
smothered  breathing,  and  sweating. 

Dose — Six  drops  tlu-ee  times  a  day. 

Ipecacuanha,  anxious  breathing,  red  eyes,  and  a  noisy  throat. 

Dose — Six  drops  every  two  hours. 

Sumach,  if  the  chest  is  oppressed  when  breathing,  the  nose  red 
and  painful  to  the  touch,  and  a  spreading  of  the  legs. 

Dose— Six  drops  every  two  hours. 

Sea  Onion,  violent  cough,  and  a  longing  wish  to  urinate. 

Dose— Four  drops  every  two  hours. 

Sulphur,  getting  jelief  by  spitting,  with  discharge  of  lumpy, 
green  matter. 

Dose — Six  drops  three  times  a  day.  For  the  first  few  days  no 
food  must  be  given,  except  cold  bran  mashes,  carrots,  and  a  little 
hay  ;  but  if  eveiything  goes  on  right,  a  dose  of  oats  can  be  given. 
Cleanliness  and  plenty  of  cold  water  will  work  the  rest. 

Inflixenz^t.. 

Remedies. — Wolffs-Bane,  Quicksilver,  Belladonna,  Arsenic,  and 
White  Bryony. 


72  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

Wolf's-Bane  is  always  used  in  the  commencement,  and  if  swell- 
ing, sneezing,  or  dry  cough  is  shown,  and  running  pool  from  the 
nostrils. 

Dose— Four  drops  every  three  hours. 

Quicksilver,  if  the  eyes  water,  the  light  is  offensive  and  the 
throat  is  filled  with  matter. 

Dose — Six  drops  three  times  a  day. 

Belladonna,  when  the  eyes  are  inflamed,  fluids  are  hard  to  swal- 
low, and  the  head  is  affected. 

Dose— Four  drops  every  three  hours. 

Arsenic,  if  the  body  be  heated,  evacuation,  bloody  and  loose, 
and  a  general  weakness. 

Dose— Four  drops  three  times  a  day. 

White  Bryony  is  very  useful,  and  may  be  substituted  for 
wolf's-bane,  if  the  latter  has  no  effect. 

GJ-ripes. 

Remedies. — Wolf's-Bane,  Arserdc,  Nux  Vomica,  Opium,  CJiamO' 
mile  Flower,  Meadow  Saffron  and  Henbane. 

Wolf's-Bane,  if  the  pulse  is  fast  and  the  mouth  dry. 

Dose— Four  drops  every  fifteen  minutes  ;  and  if  the  third  dose 
does  not  bring  relief,  take  up  the  next  remedy. 

Arsenic,  if  indigestion  or  bad  food  is  the  cause. 

Dose — Six  drops  eveiy  hour. 

Nux  Vomica  is  only  useful  when  constipation  is  the  cause. 

Dose — Six  drops  every  hour. 

Opium,  when  nux  vomica  fails,  opium  will  be  a  success. 

Dose— Four  drops  every  two  hours. 

Chamomile  Flowers,  when  the  horse  is  restless,  and  the  bowels 
are  relaxed,  and  an  evacuation  soon  follows  an  attack  of  pain. 

Dose—Sis.  drops  every  hour,  until  the  case  improves. 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  73 

Meadow  Saffron,  if  green  food  is  the  cause,  and  the  horse 
strikes  at  his  belly  with  his  hind  feet. 
Dose — Six  drops  every  hour. 

Indig-estion.. 

Remedies. — Antimony,  Ipecacuanha,  Nux  Vomica,  Arsenic, 
Peruvian  Bark,  Silex  and  Sulphur. 

Antimony,  if  the  appetite  is  lost,  and  there  is  a  craving  for 
drink,  with  offensive  discharges. 

Dose—^ix  drops  night  and  morning. 

Ipecacuanha,  if  the  passage  is  green,  and  the  food  is  vomited. 

Dose — Six  drops  night  and  morning. 

Nux  Vomica,  in  case  of  constipation,  this  remedy  is  very  good. 

Dose—^\x  drops  night  and  morning. 

Arsenic,  if  diarrhoea  comes  with  bloody  discharges. 

Dose—^\x  drops  twice  a  day. 

Peruvian  Bark  is  good  for  a  young  horse,  especially  if  the 
complaint  is  caused  by  overwork. 

Dose — Four  drops  three  times  a  day. 

Silex  will  ease  the  perspiration. 

Dose— FouY  drops  three  times  a  day. 

Sulphur  can  be  given  in  any  stage  of  the  disease. 

Diarrhoea. 

Remedies.  —  White  Bryony,  Arsenic,  Sulphur,  Chamomile  Flow- 
ers^ Meadow  Anemone,  Bitter-Siceet  and  Peruvian  Bark. 

White  Bryony  is  good  when  the  complaint  is  brought  on  from 
sudden  heat  or  cold. 

Z)(?«e— Six  drops  every  three  hours. 

Arsenic,  if  without  pain,  and  caused  by  green  food. 

jDo5d— Six  drops  every  two  hours. 


74  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

Sulphxir  can  be  given  with  Arsenic,  "when  the  passages  are 
offensive. 

Dose— The  same  as  the  last. 

Chamomile  Flowers  are  good  when  the  horse  is  restless,  and  the 
belly  commences  swelling. 

Dose — The  same  as  the  last. 

Meadow  Anemone,  if  there  is  a  disgust  for  food,  and  the 
stools  are  frequent,  with  wind  plenty. 

Dose — Six  drops  three  times  a  day. 

Bitter-Sweet  is  good  when  colic  accompanies  the  disease. 
Dose — Six  drops  three  times  a  day. 

Peruvian  Bark,  when  the  complaint  becomes  intermittent. 
Dose — Six  drops  three  times  a  day. 

Inflamiifiatioii  of*t;lie  IJo^vels. 

H^isiEBiES.  — Wolf's-Bane,  Sumach,  JH^ux  Vomica  and  Arnica. 

Wolf  s-Bane  is  the  chief  dependence  in  this  complaint,  and 
should  be  given  until  the  pain  is  eased. 

Dose — Six  drops  every  fifteen  minutes. 

Sumach,  if  the  belly  is  in  a  sweat,  and  the  urine  comes  fre- 
quent, with  a  hot  and  cold  feeling. 

Dose — Six  drops  every  two  hours. 

Nux  Vomica,  if  after  the  trouble  is  all  over,  the  bowels  are 
constipated. 

Dose— Six  drops  morning  and  night. 

Arnica,  when  the  passages  are  nothing  but  slime,  and  the  urine 
is  retained,  there  will  be  found  virtue  in  this  remedy. 

Dose — Six  drops  every  hour. 

Remedies. — Wbrmseed,  Sulphur  and  Soluble  Mercury/. 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HOESEMEN.  75 

Worm  Seed,  if  the  horse  is  continually  rubbing,  and  there  is 
an  itching  of  the  parts,  after  a  discharge  of  worms. 

Dose— Six  drops  three  times  a  day. 

Sulphur,  after  a  hard  passage. 

Dose — Six  drops  three  times  a  day. 

Soluble  Mercury,  if,  after  a  discharge  of  large  worms,  there  is 
a  thumping  of  the  sides,  and  soreness. 

Dose— Six  drops  twice  a  day. 

Iixflammation  of  tlie  liiidiie^s. 

Remedies. —  Wolf's-Bane,  Arnica,  Bitter-Sweet,  Hemp  and 
QuicJcsilver, 

Wolf's-Bane  is  very  good,  if  the  urine  deposits  a  thick  muddy 
gathering. 

Dose — Six  drops  three  times  a  day. 

Arnica,  if  an  accident  is  the  cause  of  the  trouble  this  remedy 
will  be  found  excellent. 

Dose — Six  drops  morning  and  night. 

Bitter-Sweet  is  very  good  if  exposure  is  the  cause. 

Dose — Six  drops  morning  and  night. 

Hemp,  if  the  horse  paws  the  ground,  strains,  is  restless,  and 
kicks  at  his  belly. 

Dose — Six  drops  four  times  a  day. 

Quicksilver,  if  the  horse  makes  water  too  fast,  and  perspires 
profusely. 
Dose— Six  drops  four  times  a  day. 
Remember  always,  that  cleanliness  is  next  to  godliness. 


CHAPTER   SIXTEE:N'TH. 

WHAT  VETERINARY  SURGEONS  DO. 

'There  are  a  great  many  little  odds  and  ends  that  the  amateur 
can  attend  to  without  any  knowledge  of  the  theory  of  surgical  op- 
erations, providing  he  has  intelligence  enough  to  be  practical.  It 
is  true,  that  a  graduate  could  do  all  of  these  things  better  than  an 
amateur,  but  there  are  times  when  a  professional  is  not  within 
reach,  and  in  such  a  case,  it  is  well  to  know  all  the  little  secrets 
connected  with  the  business.  Farriers  are  as  thick  as  snakes,  from 
Maine  to  Texas,  and  they  all  know  everything  about  the  horse — 
let  them  tell  it ;  but  if  a  veterinary  surgeon  pumps  them  a  little, 
they  get  dry  very  soon,  and  all  their  knowledge  of  the  horse  van- 
ishes like  air.  Knowing  this,  it  will  do  the  farmer  no  harxn  to 
know  as  much,  at  least,  as  the  farrier,  and  with  that  object  in 
view,  I  commence  this  chapter. 

As  I  said  in  a  former  chapter,  I  do  not  believe  in  castration ; 
but  as  it  will  be  done,  I  will  advise  the  easiest  and  safest  methods 
for  so  doing. 

Mr.  Youatt  is  the  best  authority  on  this  subject  that  we  know 
of,  and  believing  so,  we  will  give  his  opinion  instead  of  advancing 
our  own.  Says  Youatt :  * '  The  period  at  which  this  operation 
may  be  best  performed,  depends  much  on  the  form  and  breed  of 
the  colt,  and  the  purpose  for  which  he  is  destined.  For  the  com- 
mon farm  horse,  the  age  of  four  or  five  months  will  be  the  most 
proper  time,  or,  at  least,  before  he  is  weaned.     Few  horses  are 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  77 

lost  when  cut  at  that  age.  Care,  however,  should  be  taken  that 
the  weather  is  not  too  hot  nor  the  flies  too  numerous. 

If  the  horse  is  desigued  either  for  the  carriage  or  for  heavy 
draught,  the  farmer  should  not  think  of  castrating  him  until  he  is  at 
least  a  twelvemonth  old ;  and,  even  then,  the  colt  should  be  care- 
fully examined.  The  castration  should  be  performed  early  in  the 
spring,  or  early  in  autumn,  when  the  air  is  temperate,  and  the 
weather  dry. 

No  preparation  is  necessary  for  the  sucking  colt,  but  it  may  be 
prudent  to  bleed  and  physic  one  of  more  advanced  age.  In  the 
majority  of  cases,  no  after  trcament  will  be  necessary,  except  that 
the  animal  should  be  sheltered  from  intense  heat,  and  more  partic- 
ularly from  wet. 

Nicking  and  docking  is  another  barbarous  and  unfeeling  way  of 
making  a  horse  look  well  by  cutting  his  tail,  depriving  him  of  the 
power  of  self  protection  from  insects,  and,  in  fact,  depriving  him 
of  his  real  beauty ;  for  what  looks  nicer  than  a  long  flowing  tail. 
Now,  it  seems  to  me  that  in  this  enlightened  nineteenth  century, 
people  ought  to  be  intelligent  enough  to  know  that  if  it  was  not 
right  for  a  horse  to  remain  entire  as  he  came  into  the  world,  God 
would  never  have  fashioned  him  so  in  the  first  place,  and,  I  think, 
the  person  who  would  abuse  or  maltreat  such  a  noble  animal, 
has  about  as  much  respect  for  Him  as  he  has  for  the  horse.  If  a 
horse's  tail  be  in  your  way,  and  it  should  accidentally  touch  your 
face  on  a  wet  day,  tie  it  up. 

Bleeding  a  horse  when  almost  in  complete  health  is,  I  am  glad  to 
say,  going  out  of  use,  for  as  I  have  before  remarked  about  medicine, 
the  more  he  gets  the  more  he  needs ;  and  it  is  so  with  bleeding,  for 
I  have  noticed  that  those  who  believed  in  this  remedy  for  all  ills, 
finally  had  to  keep  it  up  to  save  the  horse's  life  from  death  by 
apoplexy;  but  there  are  times  when,  like  everything  else,  it 
has  to  be  resorted  to,  and  then  it  should  be  done  by  proper 
hands. 


78  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

Youatt  describes  bleeding  thus : 

The  operation  is  performed  with  a  fleam,  or  lancet.  The  first  is 
the  common  instrument,  and  the  safest,  except  in  sliilful  hands. 
The  lancet  has  a  surgical  appearance,  and  is  always  used  by  the 
professional.  A  piece  of  hard  wood  loaded  at  one  end  with  lead, 
is  used  to  strike  the  fleam  into  the  vein,  and  as  this  is  sometimes 
done  with  great  violence,  the  opposite  side  of  the  coat  of  the  vein 
is  wounded,  often  causing  a  bad  case  of  inflammation.  If  the  fist 
be  doubled  and  the  fleam  is  sharp  and  is  struck  with  sufficient  force 
with  the  lower  part  of  the  hand,  the  stick  may  be  dispensed  with. 

For  general  bleeding,  the  jugular  vein  is  selected.  The  horse  is 
blindfolded  on  the  side  on  which  he  is  to  be  bled,  or  his  head 
turned  well  away.  The  hair  is  smoothed  along  the  course  of  the 
vein  with  the  moistened  finger ;  then  with  the  third  and  little 
fingers  of  the  left  hand,  which  hold  the  fleam,  pressure  is  made  on 
the  vein  sufficient  to  bring  it  fairly  into  view,  but  not  to  swell  it 
too  much,  for  then,  presenting  a  rounded  surface,  it  would  be  apt 
to  roll  or  slip  under  the  blow.  The  point  to  be  selected  is  about 
two  inches  below  the  union  of  the  two  portions  of  the  jugular  at 
the  angle  of  the  jaw.  A  fleam  with  a  large  blade  is  best,  for  the 
operation  will  be  shortened,  and  a  quantity  of  blood  drawn  speedily 
will  also  have  far  more  effect  on  the  system  than  double  the  weight 
slowly  taken,  while  the  wound  will  heal  just  as  rapidly. 

In  foot  cases,  blood  may  be  taken  from  the  coronet,  or  from  the 
toe,  by  cutting  down  with  a  fine  knife  at  the  union  of  the  crust 
and  the  sole  at  the  very  toe,  until  the  blood  flows,  and,  if  necessary, 
encourage  its  discharge  by  dipping  the  foot  in  warm  water.  The 
bleeding  may  be  stopped,  by  placing  a  bit  of  tow  in  the  little 
groove  that  has  been  cut,  and  tacking  the  shoe  over  it. 

THE  PROPER  WAY  TO  TREAT  WOUNDS  AND  STRAINS. 

Incised  wounds  are  those  inflicted  with  a  sharp  instrument,  and 
if  they  are  seen  shortly  after,  and  there  be  found  no  dirt,  the  blood 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  79 

had  better  be  allowed  to  remain,  for  its  healing  qualities  are  well 
known.  Nothing  else  is  needed,  except  to  keep  the  horse  on  low 
diet,  if  he  is  to  be  confined  in  the  stable. 

Contused  and  lacerated  wounds  may  be  cured  by  a  charcoal 
poultice,  or  an  application  of  myrrh. 

Punctured  wounds  often  cause  lockjaw  and  fistula,  but  a  poul- 
tice of  flaxseed  and  balsam  will  give  relief. 

It  has  been  the  custom  to  cut  the  hair  away  from  inside  the  ear, 
but  as  that  hair  protects  the  ear  from  cold,  it  should  never  be 
touched  except  the  edges. 

Strains  are  cured  by  the  use  of  the  seton,  with  blistering  and 
rest  combined.  A  seton  is  a  piece  of  cord,  passed  by  a  needle 
through  the  skin,  and  then  held  by  tying  both  ends  in  a  knot. 
The  cord  is  moved  in  the  wound  twice  a  day,  and  sometimes  it  is 
saturated  with  spirits  of  turpentine,  so  as  to  make  the  inflammation 
greater. '  All  other  strains  are  cured  in  like  manner ;  and  an  ounce 
of  cream  of  tartar  in  one  bucket  of  water,  given  daily,  will  have  a 
good  effect. 

Galling  and  chafes  may  be  easily  cured  by  sprinkling  a  little 
fine  powdered  flour  or  table  salt  over  the  sore,  and  letting  the 
horse  rest  for  a  day  or  two. 


CHAPTER  SEVENTEENTH. 

THE   PROPER   WAY   TO    SHOE   A   HORSE. 

Proper  attention  ought  to  be  given  to  this  subject,  as  more 
horses  have  been  ruined  by  bad  shoeing  than  by  anything  else.  In 
taking  the  old  shoe  off,  all  the  clinches  of  the  nails  should  be 
raised,  without  giving  the  horse  any  pain,  then  rasp  the  outer  edge 
of  the  crust,  but  never  use  that  instrument  on  the  surface.  The 
sole  should  never  be  paired  very  thin,  for  bruises  will  be  the  con- 
sequence, as  the  foot  is  very  sensitive,  and  a  loose  stone  may  do 
incalculable  injury.  Low  heels  should  always  be  pared,  but  never 
rasped ;  and  here  it  may  be  said,  that  paring  is  a  work  of  more  la- 
bor than  a  person  would  imagine,  although  to  stand  and  look  at 
some  blacksmiths,  one  would  think  the  job  easy,  for  as  a  rule,  they 
give  themselves  as  little  trouble  as  possible ;  and  the  horn  which 
in  a  foot  unshod  would  be  worn  away  by  rubbing  against  the 
ground,  is  suffered  to  grow,  month  in  and  month  out,  until  the 
sole  is  destroyed,  and  it  can  no  longer  descend,  and  then  corns  and 
inflammation  follow  as  a  matter  of  course.  That  portion  of  the 
horn  which  defends  the  internal  part  of  the  foot,  and  keeps  it  from 
getting  bruised,  ought  not  to  be  touched  ;  but  the  heels  should  be 
looked  after,  for  there  is  a  terrible  stress  thrown  on  the  inner  heel, 
and  the  horn  wears  away  faster  there  than  anywhere  else,  and  the 
shoer  should  be  very  careful. 

For  common  work,  shoes  should  be  pretty  heavy,  and  should 
be  wide,  and  of  equal  thickness ;  so  that  they  will  protect  the  sole. 


HINTS    AND    HELPS   TO    HORSEMEN.  81 

The  shoe  must  be  made  to  fit,  for  no  amouat  of  shaving  can  bring  to 
an  unnatural  figure,  and  leave  the  foot  safe  to  work  it.  A  small 
turn  in  at  the  toe  will  prevent  the  shoe  going  backwards,  and  the 
shoe  should  be  fully  long  so  as  to  support  the  heels  ;  and  not  so 
short,  that  a  liltle  wear  drives  the  edge  of  the  shoo  into  the  horn. 
The  surface  should  have  a  flat  place  all  around  it,  so  as  the  crust 
will  have  room  to  bear  up  on  it ;  for  the  crust  sustains  the  whole 
weight  of  the  horse,  and  needs  to  be  even  everywhere.  Great  care 
should  be  had  in  opening  the  nail  holes,  in  giving  them  a  direction 
outwardly,  and  allow  the  points  of  the  nails  to  come  out  in  the 
bottom  of  the  crust.  The  fuller  of  the  shoe  ought  to  go  back  to 
the  heels,  and  then  it  will  hold  the  shoe  to  the  ground. 

A  shoe  should  never  be  burned  into  place,  as  the  heat  might 
produce  something  serious ;  but  it  can  be  lightly  touched  to  the 
foot,  so  as  to  show  where  paring  is  needed  most ;  and  then  if  the 
shoe  is  an  exact  fit,  there  will  be  no  danger  of  its  getting  loose. 
In  nailing  the  shoe  fast,  five  nails  are  suflScient  in  the  fore  shoes,  and 
seven  in  the  hind  shoes ;  and  they  should  be  di'iven  up  lightly,  and 
brought  out  speedily,  and  then  clinched ;  and  the  clinches  must 
not  be  rasped  too  fine,  but  turned  down  firm.  The  whole  sm-face 
of  the  hoof  should  never  be  rasped,  as  the  protection  given  by 
nature  to  guard  against  the  moisture  of  the  hoof  evaporating  too 
speedily,  would  become  destroyed. 

There  is  no  use  in  being  as  particular  about  the  hind  feet, 
as  about  the  fore  feet,  as  they  are  less  liable  to  iuj  ury ,  but  not 
always  so ;  but  the  shoe  should  be  fitted  carefully,  and  especially 
at  the  heels. 

Bad  shoeing  will  cause  the  feet  to  become  contracted  ;  which  can 
only  be  remedied  by  forming  the  shoe  so  that  a  level  and  secure 
support  will  be  given  to  the  heels. 


CHAPTER  EIGHTEENTH. 

EULES  OF  RACING  AND  BETTING  AS  ADOPTED  BY  THE  AMERICAN 
JOCKEY  CLUB. 

There  are  many  cities  and  towns  in  the  Udited  States,  where 
racing  would  become  popular,  if  the  people  only  knew  how  to 
carry  the  sport,  and  wishing  to  give  them  all  the  information 
necessary,  we  print  the  following  rules  of  the  American  Jockey 
Club,  to  which  association  we  tender  thanks  for  the  favor  confer- 
red; 

RACING  RULES. 


RULE  1. 

AGE. 

Race-horses  take  their  ages  from  the  first  of  January. 
RULE  2. 

MAIDEN   HORSES. 

A  maiden  horse  or  mare  is  one  that  has  never  won  a  purse  or 
sweepstakes  in  any  country. 

RULE  3. 

A  PUESE. 

For  a  purse,  no  person  can  enter,  either  in  his  own  name  or  in 
that  of  any  other  person,  more  than  one  horse  of  which  he  is  wholly 
or  in  part  owner,  unless  permitted  to  do  so  by  a  special  clause  in 
the  conditions. 

Horses  entered  for  a  purse  are  not  obliged  to  start. 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  83 

Entrance  money  to  a  piiise  shall  be  five  per  centum  on  the 
amomit  of  the  prize,  shall  be  paid  at  .the  time  of  naming,  and, 
when  not  otherwise  distributed  by  the  article,  shall  go  to  the 
second  horse. 

The  article  not  stipulating  otherwise,  entries  of  horses  for  a  purse 

shall  be  deposited  in  a  box  kept  for  that  purpose,  at  the  Judges' 

Stand,  by  four  o'clock  P.  M.   of  the  day  previous  to  the  race, 

unless  the  races  of  the  day  be  not  finished  by  three  o'clock ;  and  in 

such  cas2,  before  thirty  minutes  after  the  close  of  the  last  race. 

No  entry  shall  be  received  after  the  time  specified ;  and  the  box 

shall  not  be  opened  except  in  the  presence  of  an  officer  or  Governor 

of  the  Jockey  Club. 

RULE  4. 

SWEEPSTAKES. 

A  sweepstakes  is  a  race,  the  prize  for  which  is  the  aggregate  of 
the  stakes  which  the  nominators  of  the  horses  agree  to  deposit ;  and 
if  an  additional  sum  of  money,  cup,  piece  of  plate,  or  other  reward 
is  offered  to  the  winner,  the  race  is  still  a  sweepstakes,  whatever  be 
the  name  given  to  such  addition.  Three  subscribers  make  a  sweep- 
stakes ;  and  if  a  stake  has  the  required  number  of  subscribers  at 
the  expiration  of  the  time  of  closing,  and  the  number  is  afterwards 
reduced  by  diath  (or,  in  the  case  of  a  produce  stake,  by  failure  of 
produce),  the  race  is  not  void  so  long  as  there  are  two  horses  left, 
the  property  of  different  persons ;  and  if  the  number  is  reduced  to 
two,  it  is  still  a  sweepstakes. 

RULE  5. 

POST   MATCH   OR   POST   STAKE. 

For  a  post  match  or  post  stake,  a  subscriber  is  obliged  to  declare 
the  horse  he  intends  to  run  at  the  time  for  weighing. 

RULE  6. 

HANDICAP. 

A  handicap  is  a  race  for  which  the  horses  are  weighted  according 
to  their  merits,  in  the  estimation  of  the  handicapper. 


84  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

RULE  7. 

ORDER   OF    STARTING. 

The  places  of  horses  in  starting  shall  be  determined  by  lot,  by 
the  Clerk  of  the  Course.  The  winner  of  a  heat  shall,  at  the  next 
start,  have  the  inside  position ;  the  others  shall  take  their  positions 
on  his  right,  in  the  order  in  which  they  came  out  in  the  previous  heat. 

Nevertheless,  the  Starter  may  place  vicious  or  unruly  horses 
where  they  cannot  injure  others. 

RULE  8. 

OMISSION   OF  WEIGHT. 

"When  a  match  or  sweepstakes  is  made,  and  no  weight  mention- 
ed, the  horses  shall  carry  the  established  weight  for  age. 
RULE  9. 

OMISSION  OP  DISTANCE. 

When  a  match  or  sweepstakes  is  made,  and  no  distance  mention- 
ed, the  distance  shall  be  that  which  is  usually  run  by  horses  of  the 
same  age  as  those  engaged,  viz.  :  if  two  years  old,  six  furlongs  ;  if 
three  years  old,  one  mile  and  a  half ;  if  four  years  old,  two  miles 
and  a  half;  and  if  five  years  old,  or  upward,  three  miles;  and  if 
the  horses  be  of  different  ages,  the  distance  shall  be  fixed  by  the 

age  of  the  youngest. 

RULE  10. 

OMISSION  OF  DAY. 

If  the  meeting  be  specified  and  no  day  mentioned  for  a  race,  it  shall 
be  run  on  any  day  in  that  meeting  the  Executive  Committee  may 
appoint ;  if  neither  day  nor  meeting  be  mentionel,  then  it  shall  be 
run  during  the  meeting  in  progress,  or  during  the  next  meeting, 
should  the  race  be  made  between  meetings— in  both  cases,  on 
the  day  the  Executive  Committee  may  appoint. 
RULE  11. 

OF  DRESS   AND   COLORS. 

All  riders  must  be  dressed  in  jockey  costume — cap  and  jacket  of 
silk  or  satin,  breeches  of  white  cords,  flannel  or  buckskin,  and 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  85 

top-boots.  The  colors  selected  by  owners  are  to  be  recorded  with 
the  Clerk  of  the  Course,  and,  when  thus  recorded,  are  not  to  be 
used  by  others,  except  in  case  of  death  or  withdrawal  from  the  turf 
for  five  yc  ars.  A  list  of  all  colors  that  have  been  recorded  is  to  be 
po.-ted  in  the  Judges'  Stand. 

RULE  12. 

NOMINATIONS   AND   ENTRIES. 

In  all  nominations  and  entries,  the  horse,  mare  or  gelding  entered 
must  be  clearly  identified.  The  color,  sex,  name,  age,  sire  and 
dam  must  be  given,  and  if  the  dam  has  no  name,  such  further  pedi- 
gree and  description  must  be  added  as  will  distinguish  the  horse 
intended  to  Be  named  from  any  other  of  a  similar  pedigree.  If  the 
dam  was  covered  by  more  than  one  stallion,  the  names  of  all  of 
them  must  be  mentioned.  When  a  horse  has  run  once  over  the 
Course  of  any  recognized  association,  it  will  be  sufficient  afterward 
to  give  his  name  and  age.  If  the  name  of  a  horse  which  has  run 
be  changed,  it  is  necessary,  in  naming  or  entering  him,  to  give  his 
old  as  well  as  his  new  name,  until  he  has  run  once  under  it  over  a 
course  as  above ;  and,  if  Ms  name  be  changed  again,  all  his  names 
must  be  repeated  for  a  like  period ;  but  if  a  horsj's  name  be 
changed  before  he  has  run  in  public,  it  shall  be  sufficient  to  give 
his  new  name  in  the  first  entry  made  afterward. 

RULE  13. 

INSUFFICIENT  DESCRIPTION  A  DISQUALIFICATION. 

If  any  horse  be  entered  or  named  without  being  identified  as 
before  directed,  he  shall  not  be  allowed  to  start  in  the  race,  but  his 
owner  shall  be  liable  to  pay  the  forfeit,  or,  if  a  play  or  pay  race, 
the  whole  stake. 

If  a  horse  has  been  properly  described,  and  from  that  descrip- 
tion is  not  qualified  for  the  race  in  which  he  is  engaged,  the  entry 
or  nomination  is  void,  and  the  entrance  money  or  forfeit  is  not 
due. 


86  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

RULE  14. 

NOMINATION   OF   FOEEIGN   HOESES. 

No  horse  foaled  out  of  the  United  States  shall  run  for  any  race 
until  his  owner  has  produced  a  certificate  of  some  racing  club  of 
the  country  where  the  horse  was  foaled,  or  from  the  mayor  or 
other  public  officer  of  the  district,  stating  the  age,  pedigree  and 
color  of  the  horse,  and  the  marks  by  which  it  is  distinguished  ;  or 
has  produced  other  evidence  of  identity  satisfactory  to  the  Execu- 
tive Committee. 

RULE  15. 

FEAUDULENT  ENTEY  A  PEEPETUAL  DISQUALIFICATION. 

If  a  horse  should  fraudulently  run,  or  be  entered  to  run  for  any 
race  by  a  false  description,  such  horse  is  thenceforth  disqualified 
for  running  in  any  race,  and  the  owner  shall  be  compelled  to  re- 
turn any  sum  of  money  won  in  any  race,  which  the  horse  may 
then  and  thereafter  have  won. 

"When  a  horse  has  been  struck  out  of  an  engagement  by  the  per- 
son legally  entitled  to  do  so,  if  the  horse  be  permitted  to  start  by 
mistake  for  the  said  engagement,  he  shall  not  be  entitled  to  receive 
the  prize  or  stakes  though  he  come  in  first. 

If  any  horse  has  been  allowed  to  start  in  consequence  of  fraud 
or  false  statements  on  the  part  of  the  owner  or  other  person  having 
charge  of  the  horse,  that  person  shall  be  ruled  off  the  Course,  and 
the  horse  shall  be  disqualified  for  running  for  any  race  thereafter. 

RULE  16. 

QUALIFICATION  DATES   FEOM   TIME   OF   CLOSING. 

In  naming  or  entering  for  any  race  where  there  shall  be  any 
particular  conditions  required  as  a  qualification  to  start,  it  shall  be 
sufficient  if  the  horse  was  qualified  at  the  expiration  of  the  time 
allowed  for  naming  or  entering,  and  he  shall  not  be  disqualified 
by  anything  which  may  happen  after  the  expiration  of  that  time, 
unless  so  specified  in  the  ai'ticle,  or  unless  Lc  l-zo  mo  d'.sqnalified 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  87 

under  the  rules  relating  to  defaulters.  If  a  brood  mare  engaged 
in  a  produce  stake  drops  her  foal  before  the  first  of  January,  the 
nomination  is  void ;  and  if  she  has  a  dead  or  more  than  one  foal, 
or  is  barren,  the  nomination  is  void. 

RULE  17. 

NOMINATIONS  NOT  TO  BE   CHANGED  AFTER   CLOSING. 

No  person  who  has  once  subscribed  to  a  stake  shall  be  allowed 
to  withdraw  his  name,  or  to  substitute  that  of  another  person ;  and 
no  nomination  or  entry  shall  be  altered  in  any  respect  after  the 
time  of  closing,  without  the  consent  of  all  the  parties  in  the  race. 

RULE  18. 

EXCEPTION  TO  THE  PEEOEDING  EULE. 

When  a  person  takes  a  nomination  for  a  stake  in  which  the 
forfeit  is  to  be  declared  by  a  particular  time,  and  does  not  declare 
forfeit  by  the  time  fixed  in  the  article,  he  shall  thenceforth  be  con- 
sidered to  have  taken  the  engagement  on  himself,  and  shall  be  held 
equally  liable  with  the  original  subscriber. 

RULE  19. 

USE   OF  FICTITIOUS  NAMES. 

Every  person  who  wishes  to  engage  his  horses  in  any  other  name 
than  his  own,  must  assume  some  one  other  name,  which  must  be 
registered  with  the  Clerk  of  the  Course  ;  and  he  cannot  enter  or 
subscribe  in  any  other  until  he  resumes  his  own  name.  The  person 
registering  the  assumed  name  shall  be  considered  in  all  rt  spects  as 
the  owner  of  the  horse  entered  in  it,  and  in  the  event  of  the  forfeit 
not  being  paid,  his  real  name  shall  be  published  in  the  forfeit  list. 

No  person  shall  register,  as  an  assumed  name,  that  of  any  person 
who  runs  his. horses  in  his  own  or  in  an  assumed  name;  nor  shall 
the  real  or  assumed  name  of  any  person  who  has  run  horses  in 
the  United  States  vdthin  twenty  years,  be  registered. 

Any  horse  running  in  any  other  name  than  that  of  his  owner, 
shall  be  disqualified,  unless  the  name  is  registered  as  above.     Any 


88  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

one  owning  an  interest  in  tlie  racing  qualities  of  a  horse  shall  be 
considered  an  owner. 

This  rule  not  to  prevent  a  person  who  has  subscribed  to  a  stake 
from  giving  his  nomination,  provided  the  real  or  reg  stered  name 
of  the  owner  appear  in  the  entry. 

RULE  20. 

UNAUTHORIZED  NOMINATION. 

Any  person  entering  or  naming  a  horse  for  a  race  without  au- 
thority from  the  owner,  shall  be  responsible  for  the  stake  or  forfeit ; 
entrance  money  shall  be  retained  and  added  to  the  prize ;  and  the 
horse  shall  be  disqualified  for  running  in  any  race  until  the  stake 
or  forfeit  is  paid,  unless  the  owner  shall  have  promptly  disavowed 
the  act  by  letter,  addressed  to  the  Clerk  of  the  Course.  Publication 
of  the  entry  or  nomination  shall  be  held  as  notice  to  the  owner. 
If  it  shall  appear  to  the  Executive  Committee  that  the  authority 
denied  has  been  granted,  the  owner  shall  also  be  responsible  for  the 
stake  or  forfeit,  and  the  horse  shall  be  disqualified  for  running  in 
any  race  until  it  is  paid ;  and,  if  the  Executive  Committee  believe 
that  any  fraud  was  designed,  all  persons  implicated  therein  shall 
be  ruled  off  the  Course. 

RULE  21. 

NOMINATIONS  NOT  KEQUIRED   TO   BE   MADE   ON   SUNDAY. 

When  the  day  fixed  for  the  closing  of,  or  naming  for,  any  stake 
or  purse,  or  for  declaring  forfeit  or  produce,  shall  fall  on  Sunday, 
subscriptions,  nominations,  or  declarations  for  such  stake  or  purse 
may  be  received  on  the  following  day  ;  provided  that  there  is  an 
interval  of  one  day  between  the  day  of  closing,  naming  or  declar- 
ing, and  the  day  of  running. 

RULE  22. 

ALLOWANCE   OF  WEIGHT  IN  CERTAIN   OASES. 

In  every  race  in  which  there  is  an  allowance  of  weight  to  the 
produce  of  untried  horses  or  mares,  it  shall  extend  to  horses  and 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  89 

mares  whose  produce  have  never  won  a  registered  prize  in  any 
country ;  but  such  allowance  shall  not  be  made  unless  claimed  be- 
fore the  expiration  of  the  time  for  naming,  and  shall  not  be  lost  by 
winnings  after  that  time. 

RULE  23. 

NOMINATIONS   IN   STAKES   IN   EVENT   OF   DEATH. 

All  nominations  in  stakes  are  void  by  the  death  of  the  subscriber, 
except  where  a  horse  is  sold  with  his  engagements,  and  a  written 
acknowledgment  from  both  purchaser  and  seller  has  been  delivered 
to  the  Clerk  of  the  Course,  previous  to  the  death  of  the  original 
subscriber. 

If  any  of  the  parties  to  a  joint  nomination  die,  all  its  privileges 
and  responsibilities  attach  to  the  survivors. 

The  death  of  a  horse  does  not  release  the  nominator  or  purchaser 
from  liability  for  a  stake  or  forfeit. 

RULE  24. 

ENTEIES  IN  PUESES   NOT   VOID   BY   DEATH. 

Entries  in  purses  are  not  void  by  the  death  of  the  uoqiinator,  and 
are  transferred  to  and  become  the  privilege  of  the  actual  owner, 
unless  the  horse  has  been  sold  without  his  engagements. 

Entrance  money  for  a  purse  is  not  to  be  returned  on  the  death 
of  a  horse,  or  his  failure  to  start. 

RULE  25. 

RESPECTING   STAKES   AND   FORFEITS. 

All  Stakes  shall  be  put  in  the  hands  of  the  Clerk  of  the  Course 
before  the  riders  are  weighed.  On  the  deposit  of  a  stake,  the  right 
to  forfeit  ceases.  When  any  person  has  more  than  one  nomina- 
tion in  a  stake,  he  shall  not  be  allowed  to  start  any  horse  for  it  un- 
less the  forfeits  be  paid  for  every  horse  which  does  not  start 
belonging  to  him,  or  standing  in  his  name,  or  in  the  same  name  as 
the  horse  which  runs,  as  well  as  the  stakes  for  those  which  do. 


90  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

RULE  26. 

AEREAES   OF  OWNERS  AND  NAMERS    TO  BE  PAID    BEFORE  STARTING. 

No  person  shall  start  a  horse  for  any  race,  either  in  his  own 
name  or  that  of  any  other  person,  unless  both  the  owner  and  namer 
of  such  horse  shall  have  paid  all  former  stakes  and  forfeits ;  and 
this  rule  shall  extend  to  forfeits  due  on  the  Course  of  any  recog- 
nized association,'  if  they  have  been  published  in  the  forfeit  list  of 
the  American  Jockey  Club. 

RULE  27. 

ARREARS   DUE   FOR   A   HORSE   TO   BE   PAID   BEFORE   HE    CAN   START. 

No  horse  shall  start  for  any  race  unless  all  former  stakes  and 
forfeits  due  for  that  horse  be  paid  before  starting,  including  those 
due  on  other  Courses,  if  published  as  above. 

RULE  28. 

THE   FORFEIT   LIST. 

A  list  of  unpaid  forfeits,  with  the  name  of  the  subscriber  to  the 
stake,  and  of  subsequent  purchasers  with  the  engagement,  and  the 
name  or  description  of  the  horse,  with  the  name  or  sufficient  de- 
scription of  the  stake,  and  the  amount  of  the  forfeit,  and  the  name 
of  the  person  to  whom  it  is  due,  shall  be  attached  to  and  published 
with  the  official  summary  of  the  meeting. 

A  similar  list  of  unpaid  forfeits  shall  be  published  from  to  time, 
and  shall  be  posted  in  the  Judges'  Stand,  in  the  office  of  the  Ameri- 
can Jockey  Club,  and  in  the  subscription  room. 

Forfeits  due  on  the  Course  of  any  recognized  association  shall 
be  placed  in  the  forfeit  list  upon  official  information,  or  the  written 
declaration  of  the  person  to  whom  such  forfeit  is  due,  verified,  if 
need  be,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

The  posting  of  a  forfeit  list  in  the  office  of  the  American  Jockey 
Club,  and  at  the  Judges'  Stand,  for  34  hours,  shall  be  sufficient 
publication. 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  91 

RULE  29. 

PERSONS  APPEARING  IN  FORFEIT  LIST  DISQUALIFIED. 

No  person  whose  name  shall  appear  in  the  published  forfeit  list 
shall  be  entitled  to  enter  or  run  a  horse  for  any  race  whatever, 
either  in  his  own  name  or  in  the  name  of  any  other  person,  until  he 
shall  have  paid  up  all  the  forfeits  in  respect  of  which  his  name 
appears  in  the  list. 

RULE  30. 

HORSES  APPEARING  IN  FORFEIT  LIST  NOT  QUALIFIED  TO  BE  ENTERED. 

No  horse  which  appears  in  the  published  forfeit  list  shall  be  qualifi- 
ed to  be  entered  or  to  run  for  any  race  whatever  until  the  forfeits 
mentioned  in  the  "said  list,  as  due  for  such  horse,  shall  have  been  paid. 

RULE  31. 

STRIKING   OUT   OF  ENGAGEMENTS. 

No  horse  shall  be  considered  as  struck  out  of  his  engagement  un- 
less the  declaration  be  made  by  the  owner  or  some  person  author- 
ized by  him,  to  the  Clerk  of  the  Course  or  to  the  Secretary,  who 
shall  record  the  day  and  hour  of  its  receipt,  and  give  early  pub- 
licity thereto. 

The  striking  of  a  horse  out  of  his  engagement  is  irrevocable. 

RULE  32. 

OBJECTIONS.    . 

Should  any  horse  in  the  published  forfeit  list,  or  any  horse 
struck  out  of  his  engagement,  be  permitted  to  start  by  mistake,  he 
shall  be  liable  to  objection  at  any  time  before  the  conclusion  of  the 
race  meeting,  unless  he  should  also  be  liable  under  Rule  15,  when 
objection  may  be  made  at  any  time  within  one  year. 

Objections  to  horses  on  the  ground  of  non-payment  of  stakes  or 
forfeits  for  races  of  the  meeting  in  progress  are  not  valid,  unless 
made  before  the  horses  are  ordered  to  the  starting  post. 


92  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

RULE  33. 

SUSPECTED  NOMINATIONS  MAY  BE  STRUOK  OUT. 

In  order  to  prevent  persons  wlio  are  defaulters,  or  who  are  ruled 
off  the  course,  from  evading  these  laws,  and  continuing  to  engage 
horses  by  the  use  of  fictitious  names,  the  Executive  Committee 
shall  have  the  power  of  calling  upon  a  nominator,  to  produce  sat- 
isfactory testimony  that  the  horse  named  is  not  the  property,  either 
wholly  or  in  part,  of  any  person  whose  name  appears  in  the  pub- 
lished list  of  defaulters,  or  of  any  person  ruled  off  the  course,  and, 
if  the  nominator  shall  fail  to  do  so,  the  Executive  Committee  may 
cause  the  nomination  or  entry  to  be  erased. 

RULE  34. 

LIABILITY  FOR  ENGAGEMENTS   OF  HORSES  SOLD. 

When  a  horse  is  sold  with  his  engagements,  or  any  part  of  them, 
the  seller  has  not  the  power  of  striking  the  horse  out  of  the  engage- 
ments with  which  he  is  sold ;  but  as  the  original  subscriber  remains 
liable  to  the  respective  winners  for  the  amount  of  the  forfeits  in  each 
of  these  engagements,  he  may,  if  compelled  to  pay  them  by  the 
purchaser's  default,  place  the  forfeit  on  the  forfeit  list  by  a  written 
declaration,  in  the  usual  manner,  as  due  from  the  purchaser  to 
himself,  and  until  this  forfeit  is  repaid,  both  the  purchaser  and  the 
horse  remain  under  the  same  disabilities  as  if  the  purchaser  had 
been  the  original  subscriber.  In  all  cases  of  sale  by  private  treaty, 
the  written  acknowledgment  of  both  parties  that  the  horse  was 
sold  with  his  engagements  is  necessary  to  entitle  either  buyer  or 
seller  to  the  benefit  of  this  rule  ;  but  when  the  horse  is  sold  by  pub- 
lic auction,  the  advertised  conditions  of  sale  are  sufficient  evidence, 
and  if  he  has  been  claimed  as  the  winner  of  a  race  of  which  it  was 
a  condition  that  the  winner  was  to  be  sold  with  his  engage- 
ments, this  also  is  sufficient. 

When  a  horse  is  sold  without  his  engagements,  the  seller  may  grant 
or  refuse  to  the  purchaser  the  privilege  of  starting  for  any  of  them. 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  93 

RULE  35. 

FORFEITS  PAID  AS  ABOVE  MAY  BE  PLACED  ON  FORFEIT  LIST. 

When  a  person  has  a  horse  engaged  in  the  name  of  another  per- 
son, and  is  entitled,  by  purchase  or  otherwise,  to  start  the  horse 
for  such  engagement,  but  is  prevented  by  any  of  the  preceding 
laws,  from  starting  his  horse  without  previously  paying  up  forfeits 
to  which  he  is  not  otherwise  liable,  he  may,  if  he  pays  these  for- 
feits, start  his  horse  and  have  the  forfeits  with  the  names  of  the 
horses  for  which  they  are  due,  placed  on  the  forfeit  list,  by  a  writ- 
ten declaration,  in  the  usual  manner,  as  due  to  himself. 

RULE  36. 

FEATHER-WEIGHT. 

Feather-weights  shall  be  considered  seventy-five  pounds ;  the 

usual  declaration  must  be  made  when  the  jockey  carries  above 

that  weight. 

RULE  37. 

WELTER-WEIGHTS. 

Welter-weights  shall  be  forty  pounds  added  to  weight  for  age. 
RULE  38. 

OF  NAMES   AND  NUMBERS. 

The  name  of  every  horse  intended  to  start  in  any  race  must  I3e 
notified  to  the  Clerk  of  the  Course,  and  his  number  be  exhibited, 
ten  minutes  before  the  race  ;  and  if  any  alteration  be  made  in  the 
numbers  after  they  have  been  exhibited,  the  Judges  may  call  upon 
the  owner,  or  trainer,  or  jockey,  for  an  explanation.  If  this  is  not 
satisfactory,  the  owner  or  trainer  may  be  fined,  at  the  discretion  of 
the  Judges,  in  any  sum  not  exceeding  $250,  and  the  horse  shall 
not  be  allowed  to  start  in  another  race  until  the  fine  is  paid. 

RULE  39. 

TO   WEIGH   BEFORE   AND  AFTER  RACE. 

A  jockey  is  required  to  show  the  weight  his  horse  is  to  carry  to 
the  Clerk  of  the  Course,  at  the  usual  place  of  weighing,  at  least 


94  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

ten  minutes  before  the  race,  unless  excused  by  the  Judges  for 
some  special  reason,  in  which  case  the  fact  must  be  notified  to  the 
Clerk  of  the  Course.  Otherwise,  the  horse  shall  not  be  allowed  to 
start  in  the  race. 

Every  rider  shall,  immediately  after  the  race  or  heat,  ride  his 
horse  to  the  usual  place  of  weighing,  then  and  there  alight,  after 
obtaining  the  consent  of  the  Judges,  and  not  before,  and  weigh  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  Clerk  of  the  Course  ;  before  doing  which,  he 
is  forbidden  to  touch  anything  beyond  the  equipments  of  his 
horse. 

Until  ordered  to  dismount  by  the  Judges,  the  rider  must  not 
suffer  any  person  to  touch  or  put  cover  on  his  horse.  The  person 
unsaddling  the  horse  shall,  as  soon  as  the  saddle  and  equipments 
are  removed,  hand  them  to  the  rider,  who  shall  immediately  carry 
them  to  the  scale  to  be  weighed.  If  the  rider  be  disabled  by  an 
accident  to  himself  or  horse  which  should  render  him  incapable  of 
riding  back,  he  may  walk  or  be  carried  to  the  scale. 

If  the  jockey  dismounts  without  permission,  or  otherwise  vio- 
lates this  rule,  his  horse  is  disqualified  for  winning  the  race,  unless 
he  can  allege  extraordinary  circumstances,  the  sufliciency  of  which 
must  be  decided  by  the  Judges. 

If  a  jockey  riding  a  beaten  horse  does  not  return  to  weigh,  or 
give  reasons  satisfactory  to  the  Judges  for  not  so  doing,  he  shall 
be  fined  not  less  than  $25  nor  more  than  $100,  and  shall  not  ride 
until  the  fine  is  paid ;  and  if  it  can  be  proved  that  the  owner  or 
trainer  connived  at  this  violation  of  the  law,  they  shall  be  fined 
$100  each,  and  the  horse  shall  be  disqualified  for  running  in  any 
race  until  all  the  fines  are  paid. 

The  jockey  is  to  be  weighed  with  all  the  equipments  of  his  horse, 
except  the  bridle,  which  it  is  optional  with  him  to  weigh,  unless 
required  to  do  so  by  the  Clerk  of  the  Course.  No  whip,  or  substi- 
tute for  a  whip,  shall  be  allowed  in  the  scales  in  order  to  make 
weight,  but  if  one  has  been  carried  by  the  jockey,  its  weight  shall 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  95 

be  reported  to  the  Judges  by  the  Clerk  of  the  Course,  in  case  the 
weight  thus  carried  would  be  suflScient  to  disqualify  the  horse. 
An  allowance  of  1  lb.  will  be  made  for  a  curb  or  double  bridle,  but 
no  weight  is  allowed  for  a  snaffle  bridle,  unless  it  is  put  in  the 
scale  before  the  horse  is  led  away. 

Horses  not  bringing  out  the  weight  shown  before  the  race,  or 
within  1  lb.  of  it,  shall  be  disqualified  for  winning  the  race ;  but  the 
Judges  ma^  make  allowance  for  overplus  occasioned  by  rain  or  mud. 

RULE  40. 

OVEE-WEIGHT. 

Each  jockey  shall  be  allowed  two  pounds  and  no  more,  above 
the  weight  specified  for  his  horse  to  carry  (all  allowances  to  which 
he  is  entitled  being  deducted),  unless  a  declaration  of  the  extra 
weight  the  horse  is  about  to  carry  has  been  made  to  the  Clerk  of 
the  Course  at  least  ten  minutes  before  the  race ;  and  the  extra 
weight  shall  be  announced  or  appended  to  the  horse's  number 
when  it  is  put  up ;  and  the  weight  each  horse  actually  carried,  if 
more  than  2  lbs.  above  his  weight,  shall  be  stated  in  the  published 
summary  of  the  meeting ;  but  in  no  case  shall  a  horse  be  allowed 
to  start  carrying  more  than  five  pounds  over- weight,  unless  the 
judges  should  be  unable  to  decide  before  the  race  to  what  penalties 
the  horse  is  liable,  or  to  what  allowances  he  is  entitled,  in  which 
ease  he  may  start  with  any  weight  his  owner  may  think  proper  to 
put  up.  No  horse  can  be  disqualified  for  winning  on  account  of 
over- weight  with  which  he  has  been  allowed  to  start. 

RULE  41. 

EIDEES  FALLING. 

If  a  rider  fall  from  his  horse  while  riding  a  heat  or  race,  and  anoth- 
er person  of  sufficient  weight  ride  him  in,  no  penalty  shall  be  exacted 
for  over-weight,  and  the  horse  shall  not  be  disqualified  for  winning, 
if  brought  back  to  the  spot  where  the  rider  fell. 


96  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

RULE  42. 

STARTING. 

The  horses  shall  be  started  by  a  flag,  and  there  shall  be  no  start 
until,  and  no  recall  after,  the  Assistant  Starter  drops  his  flag,  in 
response  to  the  signal  from  his  chief.  The  horses  shall  be  sum- 
moned for  each  heat  or  race  by  the  bugle-call  or  bell  on  the  Judges' 
Stand. 

RULE  43. 

If  any  horse  whose  rider  has  been  weighed,  or  whose  number  has 
been  exhibited,  does  not  start  and  run  the  Course,  the  Judges  shall 
call  upon  the  owner,  trainer  and  jockey  for  an  explanation,  and  if 
satisfactory  cause  be  not  shown,  shall,  at  their  discretion,  fine, 
suspend  or  rule  off  the  Course  the  parties  in  fault. 

RULE  44. 

POWER   OF   STARTER. 

The  Starter  is  prohibited  from  making  a  running  start ;  the  hor- 
ses must  walk  up,  and  be  started  from  a  walk.  He  has  authority 
to  order  the  jockeys  to  draw  up  in  a  line  as  far  behind  the  starting 
post  as  he  may  think  proper,  and  any  jockey  disobeying  the  orders 
of  the  Starter,  or  taking  any  unfair  advantage,  shall  be  punished 
by  fine  or  suspension,  at  the  discretion  of  the  Starter ;  but  the  sus- 
pension of  a  jockey  shall,  in  no  case,  take  effect  until  after  the  last 
race  of  the  day  of  his  suspension. 

RULE  45. 

OF    AIDS. 

No  person  shall  be  permitted  to  turn  or  lead  a  horse  to  the 
post;  the  horses  shall  be  started  by  their  jockeys,  and  no  other 
person  shall  strike  a  horse  to  g^t  him  from  the  post,  or  during  the 
running  of  a  race,  nor  shall  any  person  stand  in  the  track  to  point 
out  a  path  for  the  rider. 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  97 

RULE  46. 

OF  FALSE   STARTS. 

When  a  false  start  is  made,  no  horse  making  the  false  start,  nor 
any  horse  remaining  at  the  post,  shall  have  clothes  thrown  upon 
him,  or  water  given  him,  or  his  mouth  sponged  out ;  nor  shall  the 
rider  be  permitted  to  dismount ;  nor  shall  any  delay  be  permitted ; 
but  the  horses  shall  be  started  as  soon  as  brought  back  to  the  post. 
Horses  making  a  false  start  shall  return  to  the  post  by  the  shortest 
way ;  and  if  the  Starter  perceive  that  a  longer  way  is  taken,  he 
shall  not  delay  the  start  for  them.  Any  infringement  of  this  rule 
shall  be  punished  by  fine  or  suspension,  at  the  discretion  of  the 
Starter.  When  a  false  start  is  mxde,  and  a  horse  refuses  to  return 
to  the  post,  the  Starter  may  permit  him  to  be  led  back  behind  the 
post,  and  then  let  loose. 

RULE  47. 

OF   ACCIDENTS. 

If  an  accident  happen  to  a  horse  or  rider,  except  while  repeat- 
ing heats,  the  Starter  may  grant  a  reasonable  delay,  not  to  exceed 
fifteen  minutes,  which,  in  extreme  cases,  may  be  extended  by  the 
Judges. 

RULE  48. 

OF  BOLTING. 

If  any  horse  shall  run  from  the  Course  into  the  field,  he  shall  be 

disqualified  for  winning  the  race,  although  he  may  come  out  ahead, 

unless  he  turn  and  again  enter  the  Course  at  the  point  from  which 

he  swerved. 

RULE  49. 

FOUL  RIDING. 

If,  in  running  for  any  race,  one  horse  sha'd  cross  or  jostle  anoth- 
er, SO  as  to  impede  him,  such  horse  is  disqualified  for  winning  the 
race,  whether  such  cross  or  jostle  happened  by  the  foul  or  careless 
riding  of  the  jockey,  or  by  the  swerving  of  the  horse,  unless  it 

shall  appear  to  the  Judges  that  he  wis  forced  from  his  track  by  a 

5 


98  HINTS   AND   HELPS   TO   HORSEMEN. 

cross  or  jostle,  or  through  the  foul  riding  of  other  horses,  in  which 
case  the  penalty  shall  apply  only  to  the  horse  or  horses  primarily 
in  fault.  A  leading  horse  is  entitled  to  any  part  of  the  Course, 
but  if  he  swerves  to  one  side  when  a  horse  is  so  near  him  that 
the  latter  is  compelled  to  shorten  his  stride,  it  is  deemed  a 
cross. 

If  during  the  running  of  a  race  a  jockey  does  any  act  of  violence 
to  another  jockey  or  horse,  or  rides  his  horse  either  willfully  or 
carelessly,  so  as  to  injure  another  horse,  his  horse  is  disqualified 
for  winning  the  race. 

If  the  Judges  are  satisfied  that  the  riding  of  a  race  was  intention- 
ally foul,  or  that  the  jockey  was  instructed  or  induced  so  to  ride, 
all  persons  guilty  of  complicity  in  the  offence  shall  be  ruled  off 
the  Course. 

When  a  horse  is  disqualified  under  this  rule,  the  penalty  attaches 
to  every  horse  in  the  race  belonging  wholly  or  in  part  to  the  same 
owner. 

Complaints  can  only  be  received  from  the  owner,  trainer,  or 
jockey  of  the  horse  alleged  to  be  affected,  and  must  be  made  to  the 
Judges  either  before  or  immediately  after  his  jockey  has  passed 
the  scales. 

In  steeple  chases  and  hurdle  races,  the  penalties  provided  in  this 
rule  are  not  applicable,  unless,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Judges,  the 
foul  riding  was  deliberate  and  intended  to  jeopardize  the  chance 
of  success  of  another  horse  in  the  race. 

RULE  50. 

WHEN  HEAT   IS  VOID. 

If  the  Start  takes  place  on  the  wrong  side  of  the  starting  post, 
or  if  no  person  officially  appointed  occupies  the  Judges'  Stand,  the 
heat  or  race  is  void,  and  must  be  run  again — in  twenty  minutes, 
if  the  distance  to  be  run  is  two  miles  or  less,  and  in  30  minutes  if 
over  two  miles. 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  99 

RULE  51. 

WnTNER   OF  A  HEAT   OR  RACE. 

The  horse  that  first  gets  his  head  to  the  winning  post  shall  be 
considered  the  winner  of  the  heat  or  race, 

RULE  52. 

OF    HEATS. 

In  a  race  of  heats,  the  horse  that  actually  wins  two  heats,  or 
distances  the  field,  wins  the  race.  A  horse  running  in  any  two 
consecutive  heats,  without  winning  or  running  a  dead  heat,  cannot 
start  again  in  the  race.  When  a  race  is  won  by  two  heats,  the 
preference  of  the  horses  is  determined  by  the  places  they  get  in 
the  second  heat.  If  more  than  two  heats  are  run,  the  horses  start- 
ing for  the  deciding  heat  shall  alone  be  placed  in  the  race.  Horses 
started  and  drawn  before  a  race  of  heats  is  won,  are  held  to  be 

distanced. 

RULE  53. 

IN  HEAT   RACES,  ONLY  ONE   HORSE  OR   ONE  RIDER   IN  SAME  INTEREST 
CAN   START. 

No  person  shall  start  more  than  one  horse  of  which  he  is  the 
owner,  either  wholly  or  in  part,  either  in  his  own  name  or  that  of 
any  other  person,  for  any  race  of  heats  ;  nor  shall  two  riders  from 
the  same  stable  be  permitted  to  ride  in  such  race. 

RULE  54. 

HORSES  NOT  TO  BE  DRAWN  DURING  RA.0E  OF  HEATS. 

Any  person  who  shall  sell  or  draw  his  horse  (if  by  the  sale  the  horse 
be  drawn)  during  the  pendency  of  a  race  of  heats,  unless  by  per- 
mission of  the  Judges,  shall  be  ruled  off  the  Course. 

RULE  55. 

OF  TIME   BETWEEN  HEATS. 

The  time  between  heats  shall  be — 

In  mile  heats 20  minutes. 

In  two  mile  heats 25  minutes. 


100  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

In  three  mile  heats 35  minutes. 

In  four  mile  heats 40  minutes. 

RULE  56. 

OF  DEAD   HEATS. 

If  for  any  race  not  to  be  run  in  heats,  the  first  two  or  more  horses 
shall  come  in  so  near  together  that  the  Judges  shall  not  be  able 
to  decide  which  won,  those  horses  only  shall  run  for  such  prize 
over  again,  after  the  last  race  on  the  same  day,  but  at  an  interval 
of  not  less  than  thirty  minutes.  The  other  horses  which  started 
are  deemed  losers,  and  are  entitled  to  their  respective  places,  as  if 
the  race  had  been  finally  determined  the  first  time. 

When  a  dead  heat  for  a  race  not  of  heats  is  run,  the  owners  of 
the  horses  making  the  dead  heat  may  agree  to  divide  the  prize 
or  stakes,  and  thus  terminate  the  race,  if  the  conditions  of  the 
race  do  not  prevent,  but  the  terms  of  the  division  must  be 
made  known  to  the  Clerk  of  the  Course. 

RULE  57. 

EFFECT  OF  DIVIDING  AFTEE  A  DEAD  HEAT. 

When  horses  run  a  dead  heat  for  any  race  not  to  be  run  in  heats, 
and  the  parties  agree  to  divide  the  stakes,  such  horses  shall  be 
liable  to  carry  extra  weight  as  winners  of  that  race,  whether  one 
of  the  horses  walk  over  for  a  deciding  heat  or  not,  and  if  there  is 
any  money  for  the  second  horse,  they  divide  that  also. 

RULE   58. 

DEAD   HEAT   FOR   SECOND    PLACE. 

When  horses  run  a  dead  heat  for  the  second  place,  they  divide 
any  money  that  may  be  payable  to  the  second  horse,  and  if  there 
is  any  money  for  the  third,  they  divide  that  also  ;  and  if  any  of 
these  horses  run  for  a  race  in  which  there  is  a  penalty  for  having 
received  a  certain  amount  of  money  as  second  horse,  they  shall 
be  considered  as  having  received  only  the  amount  of  their  re- 
spective shares. 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  101 

When  a  dead  heat  is  declared  for  the  second  place  in  any  race, 
and  the  winner  is  disqualified  too  late  for  the  race  to  be  run  again 
on  the  same  day,  the  horses  that  ran  the  dead  heat  shall  divide 
the  race  without  either  of  them  being  called  upon  to  walk  over, 
and  if  any  horse  was  placed  fourth,  he  shall  receive  any  money 
there  may  have  been  for  the  third. 

RULE   59. 

WHEN  ENTITLED   TO   SECOND   MONEY. 

When  it  is  a  condition  of  a  stake  or  purse,  that  the  owner  of  a 
second  horse  shall  receive  a  certain  sum  of  money  out  of  the 
stakes  or  entrance  money,  and  the  race  is  walked  over  for,  or  no 
second  horse  is  placed,  the  winning  horse  is  entitled  to  the  whole. 
If  the  money  advertised  to  be  given  to  the  second  horse  is  a  sep- 
arate donation  from  the  race  fund  or  other  source,  and  the  race  is 
walked  over  for,  or  no  second  horse  is  placed,  the  money  is  not 

given  at  all. 

RULE   60. 

OF  DISTANCING. 

All  horses  whose  heads  have  not  reached  the  distance  post  as 
soon  as  the  leading  horse  arrives  at  the  winning  post,  are  dis- 
tanced, but  as  indispensable  proof  of  the  fact,  the  distance  judge 
must  have  dropped  his  flag  in  response  to  the  Judge's  flag. 

In  heats  of  one  mile,  40  yards  shall  be  a  distance. 

In  heats  of  two  miles,  50  yards  shall  be  a  distance. 

In  heats  of  three  miles,  60  yards  shall  be  a  distance. 

In  heats  of  four  miles,  70  yards  shall  be  a  distance. 

RULE   61. 

EFFECT   OF  DISQUALIFICATION, 

In  running  the  best  of  heats,  horses  disqualified  for  winning  are 
to  be  held  as  distanced  ;  and  in  other  races  are  not  to  be  placed. 
Whenever  a  horse  which  has  come  in  first  is  disqualified,  the  heat 
or  race  shall  be  awarded  to  the  next  best  horse  which  is  qualified. 


102  HINTS   AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

RULE   62. 

OF  SELLING  EAOES.      HOW  THE  WINNER  MAY   BE  CLAIMED. 

When  it  is  made  a  condition  of  any  race  that  the  winner  shall  be 
sold  for  any  given  sum,  the  owner  of  the  second  horse  being  first 
entitled,  etc.,  no  other  person  than  one  who  ran  a  horse  in  the  race 
shall  be  entitled  to  claim.  The  claim  must  be  made  to  the  Judges 
or  Clerk  of  the  Course  within  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after  the  race. 
The  horse  claimed  shall  not  be  delivered  until  the  amount  is  paid  to 
the  Clerk  of  the  Course,  and  he  must  be  paid  for  by  ten  o'clock  at 
night  on  the  day  of  the  race,  otherwise  the  party  claiming  shall  not 
be  entitled  to  demand  the  horse  at  any  future  period  ;  but,  never- 
theless, the  owner  of  the  horse  may  insist  upon  the  claimant  tak- 
ing and  paying  for  the  horse  claimed. 


RULE  63. 

OF  SALES  BY  ATTOTION. 

When  it  is  a  condition  of  a  selling  race  that  the  winner  shall  be 
put  up  at  auction  after  the  race,  any  surplus  which  may  thereby  be 
obtained  over  and  above  the  price  for  which  the  horse  was  entered 
to  be  sold,  shall  be  paid  to  the  owner  of  the  second  horse,  and  this 
shall  not  invalidate  the  privilege  of  the  second  horse  as  to  the  prior 
claim  of  any  beaten  horse,  under  Rule  64. 

RULE  64. 

CLAIM  OF  BEATEN  HOESES. 

Any  horse  running  for  a  selling  race  is  liable  to  be  claimed  by  the 
owner  of  any  other  horse  in  the  race  for  the  price  of  which  he  is 
entered  to  be  sold  and  the  amount  of  the  stake,  deductmg  there- 
from any  sum  he  may  receive  by  the  conditions  of  the  race— the 
owner  of  the  second  horse  to  be  first  entitled  to  claim,  and  the 
others  in  the  order  in  which  their  horses  are  placed,  and  the  win- 
ner to  have  the  last  claim. 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  103 

RULE  65. 

A  PERSON  CAN   CLAIM  BUT   ONE  HOKSE. 

No  person  can  claim  more  than  one  horse  in  the  same  race,  and 
if  two  or  more  persons  equally  entitled  wish  to  claim,  they  shall 
draw  lots  for  the  priority. 

RULE  66. 

FAILUEE   TO   DELIVER   OR   PAY   FOR   HORSES. 

Any  person  who  refuses  to  deliver  or  fails  to  pay  for  a  horse 
purchased  or  claimed  in  a  selling  race,  shall  be  ruled  off  the 
Course. 

RULE  67. 

IN  CASE   OF  DISQUALIFICATION. 

If  a  horse  claimed  or  purchased  in  a  selling  race  should  subse- 
quently be  disqualified,  the  claimant  or  purchaser  shall  have  the 
option  of  keeping  it  at  the  price  of  a  beaten  horse,  or  returning 
it  immediately. 

RULE  68. 

*  EXTRA   WEIGHTS   AND   ALLOWANCES. 

When  it  is  the  condition  of  any  race  that  horses  should  carry 
extra  weight  for  winning  a  certain  number  of  prizes  dm*ing  the 
year,  such  winnings  shall  date  from  the  1st  of  January  preceding, 
shall  extend  to  the  time  of  starting,  unless  otherwise  specified,  and 
shall  apply  to  all  established  races  in  any  country. 

No  allowance  shall  be  made  for  having  been  beaten  a  certain 
number  of  times. 

If  not  otherwise  specified,  winniDgs,  extra  weights  and  allowan- 
ces are  not  accumulative,  but  extend  to  the  time  of  starting,  unless 
a  horse,  entered  or  named  for  a  race  in  which  any  particular  con- 
ditions are  required  as  a  qualification  to  start,  would  thereby  be 
disqualified. 

A  match  or  a  private  sweepstakes — that  is,  one  to  which  no  money 
has  been  added,  and  which  has  not  been  publicly  advertised  pre- 
vious to  the  engagement  being  made — does  not  subject  a  horse  to 


104  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.      ' 

extra  weight  or  entitle  liim  to  allowance.  A  horse  walking  over  or 
receiving  forfeit,  except  for  a  match  or  private  sweepstakes,  is 
deemed  a  winner. 

Winners  or  losers  of  hurdle  races  or  steeple  chases  are  not  con- 
sidered winners  or  losers  in  flat  racing. 

RULE  69. 

VALTJE   OF   PEIZES,    HOW   CALCULATED. 

In  estimating  the  value  of  any  prize,  no  deduction  shall  be  made, 
except  of  the  winner's  own  stake,  or  entrance  money,  and  of  any 
sum  or  sums  required  by  the  conditions  of  the  race  to  be  paid  out 
of  the  stakes  or  entrance  money  to  the  owners  of  any  other  horse 
or  horses  in  the  race. 

The  value  of  any  prize  not  of  money  or  paid  in  money  shall  not 

be  estimated. 

RULE  70. 

OBJECTION  TO   QUALIFICATION. 

When  the  age  or  qualification  of  a  horse  is  objected  to,  either 
before  or  after  running  for  any  race,  the  Executive  Committee,  or 
those  whom  they  may  appoint,  shall  have  power  to  order  an  examin- 
ation of  the  horse's  mouth,  and  to  call  for  all  such  evidence  as  they 
may  require,  and  their  decision  shall  be  final.  If  the  disqualifica- 
tion is  made  out,  and  they  believe  that  the  horse  was  entered  fraud- 
ulently, all  persons  implicated  in  the  fraud  shall  be  ruled  off  the 

Course. 

RULE  71. 

WHEN   COMPLAINTS   MUST   BE   MADE. 

All  complaints  of  foul  riding,  or  of  horses  not  running  the 
proper  course,  or  of  any  other  irregularities  occurring  in  the  heat 
or  race,  must  be  made  to  the  Judges  by  the  owner,  trainer,  or 
jockey  of  a  horse  in  the  race,  either  before  or  immediately  after  his 
jockey  has  passed  the  scales.  Objections  to  winning  horses  on 
other  grounds  cannot  be  entertained  unless  made  to  the  Executive 
Committee  before  the  conclusion  of  the  race  meeting,  save  and 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  105 

excepting  charges  of  fraudulent  entry,  or  of  running  horses  under 
a  false  description,  which  may  be  investigated  at  any  period  within 
one  year  from  the  date  of  the  offence. 
RULE  72. 

OBJECTIONS  TO   QUALIFICATION,    WHEN  TO  BE   MADE. 

When  the  qualification  of  any  horse  is  objected  to,  by  ten  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  day  of  the  race,  the  owner  must  produce 
evidence  to  prove  the  qualification,  satisfactory  to  the  Executive 
Committee  or  Clerk  of  the  Course  before  the  race  is  run ;  and  if  he 
shall  start  his  horse  without  doing  so,  the  prize  shall  be  withheld 
for  a  period  to  be  fixed  upon  by  the  Executive  Committee,  at  the 
expiration  of  which  time,  if  the  qualification  be  not  proved  to  their 
satisfaction,  he  shall  not  be  entitled  to  the  prize,  though  his  horse 
shall  come  in  first,  but  it  shall  be  given  to  the  owner  of  the  second 
horse.  When  the  quaUfication  of  a  horse  is  objected  to  after  that 
time,  the  person  making  the  objection  must  prove  the  disqualifica- 
tion. 

RULE  73. 

EMPLOYMENT  OF  EIDEES  AND  GEOOMS. 

No  owner  or  trainer  shall  engage  a  rider  or  groom  from  another 
stable,  who  has  not  a  certificate  of  good  conduct,  or  a  written  con- 
sent to  his  re-engagement,  from  his  last  employer. 

If  the  certificate  is  unjustly  refused,  or  for  any  reason  the  consent 
cannot  be  obtained,  the  Executive  Committee  may  authorize  the 
engagement.  After  due  notice  of  the  complaint,  either  personally 
or  by  letter  addressed  to  his  usual  post-offlce,  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee sl^gill  fine  any  person  infringing  this  rule  not  less  than  $100, 
and  may  rule  him  off  the  Course. 

RULE  74. 

JOCKEYS. 

If  a  jockey  rides  a  race  without  the  consent  of  his  employer,  the 
Executive  Committee  may  fine  or  suspend  him,  and  may  also  fine 
or  suspend  the  owner  or  trainer  for  whom  he  rode. 


106  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

If  a  jockey  unattached  to  a  stable  refuses  to  fulfill  an  engage- 
ment, the  Executive  Committee  may  fine  or  suspend  him. 

RULE  75. 

FOE  THE  PEOTECTION  OF  EIDERS,   ETC. 

Any  owner  or  trainer,  who  shall  owe  any  rider  or  groom  more 
than  three  months'  wages,  payment  of  which  has  been  refused, 
shall,  upon  proof  of  the  fact  satisfactory  to  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee, be  ruled  off  the  Course.  The  Executive  Committee  shall 
not  entertain  any  complaint,  under  this  rule,  unless  it  is  attested  by 
the  affidavit  of  the  creditor  before  a  magistrate,  and  substantiated  by 
evidence  satisfactory  to  them,  and  shall  not  impose  the  penalty 
until  they  have  given  to  the  person  owing  such  wages,  reasonable 
notice  of  the  complaint,  either  personally  or  by  letter  addressed  to 
his  usual  post-office ;  and  they  shall  remove  the  disability  upon 
proof  satisfactory  to  them  of  the  payment  of  the  debt. 

RULE  76. 

PEESONS  EXPELLED  FEOM  OTHEE   OOUESES. 

Every  person  who  is  expelled  from  or  ruled  off  the  Course  of 
any  racing  Association  recognized  by  the  American  Jockey  Club, 
is  necessarily  ruled  off  every  Course  under  its  control. 

RULE  77. 

OF  DEOOEIJM. 

If  any  owner,  trainer,  jockey  or  attendant  of  a  horse  use  im- 
proper language  to  the  officers  of  the  Club,  he  shall  be  ruled  off 

the  Course. 

RULE  78.  • 

OP  PEESONS  ALLOWED   ON   OOUESE  DURING  EAOE. 

After  the  horses  are  ordered  to  the  starting  post,  and  until  the 
Judges  direct  the  gates  to  be  re-opened,  no  person  except  the  rac- 
ing officials  and  the  owners,  trainers  and  immediate  attendants  of 
the  horses  in  the  race,  shall  be  allowed  on  the  Course  to  be  run 
over. 


HINTS   AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  107 

RULE    79. 

POWERS    OF   EXECUTIVE    COMMITTEE. 

When  there  is  no  specified  penalty  for  violation  of  the  racing 
rules  or  of  the  regulations  of  the  Coui'se,  the  Executive  Conunittee 
have  the  power  to  fine,  suspend,  expel  or  rule  off  the  Course. 

RULE   80. 

PAYMENT   AND   DISPOSAL   OF  FINES. 

All  fines  must  be  paid  within  twenty-four  hours.  Delinquents 
shall  be  ruled  off  the  Course. 

The  proceeds  of  all  fines  shall  be  applied,  under  the  direction  of 

the  Executive  Committee,  to  the  relief  of  sick  and  disabled  riders 

and  grooms. 

RULE   81. 

CASES   TJNPEOVIDED   FOB. 

In  all  matters  relating  to  the  races,  or  running  of  a  race,  not  pro- 
vided for  in  these  rules,  the  Executive  Committee  and  Judges  shall 
decide  according  to  the  best  of  their  judgment  and  the  usages  of 
the  turf. 


CHAPTER  NINETEENTH. 

BETTING  RULES. 


RULE    1. 

In  all  bets,  there  must  be  a  possibility  to  win  when  the  bet  is 
made.     "You  cannot  win  where  you  cannot  lose." 

RULE   2. 

Bets  go  as  the  prize  or  stakes  go.  If,  however,  an  objection  be 
made  and  sustained,  to  the  qualification  of  a  horse,  on  the  ground 
of  incorrect  pedigree  or  nomination  or  other  defect  in  his  engage- 
ment after  the  race  is  run,  the  bets  shall  go  to  the  horse  that  comes 
in  first,  provided  he  is  of  the  right  age,  and  in  other  respects  has 
not  transgressed  the  rules  of  racing ;  but  if  the  owner  of  a  horse, 
or  a  person  on  his  behalf,  succeed  by  fraud  or  by  false  statements 
in  starting  him  for  a  race  for  which  he  is  legally  disqualified, 
making  himself  liable  to  the  penalties  in  Rule  15  of  Racing  Rules, 
the  bets  will  go  with  the  prize  or  stakes,  whether  any  objection  be 
made  either  before  or  after  the  race. 

RULE   3. 

All  bets  are  play  or  pay,  unless  otherwise  stipulated. 

RULE   4. 

All  double  bets  must  be  considered  play  or  pay. 

RULE  5. 

Confirmed  bets  cannot  be  off,  except  by  mutual  consent  or  by 
failure  to  make  stakes  at  the  time  and  place  which  may  have  been 
agreed  upon,  in  which  case  it  is  optional  with  a  bettor  not  in  default 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN.  109 

to  declare  then  and  there  that  the  bet  stands.  If  at  the  time 
specified  for  making  stakes,  the  horse  or  horses  backed  are  dead 
or  struck  out  of  the  engagement,  and  a  start  has  not  been  stipu- 
lated, the  bettor  against  them  need  not,  while  the  backer  must  de- 
posit his  stake.  If  there  is  no  stipulation  when  the  bet  is  made 
for  the  deposit  of  stakes,  they  cannot  be  demanded  afterward. 
Bets  between  members  of  the  subscription  room  are  not  governed 
by  this  rule  where  it  conflicts  with  any  regulation  or  practice  there 

established. 

RULE  6. 

All  bets  on  matches  and  private  sweepstakes  depending  between 

any  two  horses,  are  void  if  those  horses  become  the  property  of 

the  same  person  or  his  confederate,  subsequently  to  the  bets  being 

made. 

RULE  7. 

Unless  agreed  by  parties  to  the  contrary,  all  bets  between  par- 
ticular horses  are  void  if  neither  of  them  is  placed  in  the  race  ; 
except  bets  between  particular  horses  started  for  a  race  of  heats, 
but  not  starting  for  a  third  heat,  which  shall  be  determined  by 
their  places  in  the  second  heat,  and  bets  between  such  horses  and 
a  horse  starting  for  a  third  heat,  which  are  won  by  the  latter,  even 
though  he  be  distanced  afterward. 

RULE  8. 

If  any  bet  shall  be  made  by  signal  or  indication  after  the  race 

has  been  determined,  such  bet  shall  be  considered  fraudulent  and 

void. 

RULE  9. 

The  person  who  lays  the  odds  has  a  right  to  choose  a  horse  or 

the  field;  when  a  person  has  chosen  a  horse,  the  field  is  what 

starts  against  him. 

RULE  10. 

If  odds  are  laid  without  mentioning  the  horse  before  the  race  is 

over,  the  bet  must  be  determined  by  the  state  of  the  odds  at  the 

time  of  makins  it. 


110  HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HORSEMEN. 

RULE  11. 

When  a  race  is  postponed,  all  bets  must  stand ;  but  if  the  slight- 
est difference  in  the  terms  of  the  engagement  is  made,  all  bets  be- 
fore the  alteration  are  void. 

RULE  12. 

Bets  made  on  horses  winning  any  number  of  races  within  the 
year  shall  be  understood  as  meaning  between  the  1st  of  January 
and  the  31st  of  December,  both  inclusive. 

RULE  13. 

If  a  bet  is  made  between  two  horses,  with  a  forfeit  aflSxed — say 
$100,  half  forfeit — and  both  horses  start,  either  party  may  declare 
forfeit ;  and  the  person  making  such  a  declaration  would  pay  f  50 
if  the  other  horse  was  placed  in  the  race,  but  would  receive  nothing 
in  the  event  of  his  horse  being  placed. 

RULE  14. 

Money  given  to  have  a  bet  laid  shall  not  be  returned  though  the 

race  be  not  run. 

RULE  15. 

Matches  and  bets  are  void  on  the  decease  of  either  party  before 

the  match  or  bet  is  determined. 

RULE  16. 

Bets  on  a  match  for  which  a  dead  heat  is  run  are  void ;  and  if 
the  match  is  run  over  again  instanter,  it  is  considered  a  fresh  en- 
gagement. 

RULE  17. 

When  the  riders  of  any  horses  brought  out  to  run  for  any  race 
are  called  upon  by  the  Starter  to  take  their  places,  all  bets  respect- 
ing such  horses  shall  be  play  or  pay. 

RULE  18. 

When  horses  run  a  dead  heat  for  a  purse  or  sweepstakes,  and 
the  owners  agree  to  divide,  all  bets  between  such  horses,  or  be- 


HINTS    AND    HELPS    TO    HOESEMEN.  Ill 

tween  either  of  them  and  the  field,  must  be  settled  by  the  money 
betted  being  put  together  and  divided  between  the  parties  in  the 
same  proportion  as  the  prizes  or  stakes. 

If  the  dead  heat  be  the  first  event  of  a  double  bet  between  either 
of  the  horses  making  it  and  the  field,  the  bet  is  void,  unless  one 
horse  received  above  a  moiety,  which  would  constitute  him  a  win- 
ner in  a  doul^le  event. 

If  the  dead  heat  be  the  first  event  of  a  double  bet  between  the 
horses  making  it,  the  bet  is  void,  unless  the  division  was  imequal, 
in  which  case  a  horse  receiving  a  larger  proportion  would,  in  a 
double  event,  be  considered  as  better  placed  in  the  race  than  one 
receiving  a  smaller  sum. 

If  a  bet  is  made  on  one  of  the  horses  that  ran  the  dead  heat 

against  a  beaten  horse,  he  who  backed  the  horse  that  ran  the  dead 

heat  wins  the  bet. 

RULE  19. 

If  a  match  be  run  by  mistake  after  the  principals  have  compro- 
mised, it  does  not  affect  the  betting  or  the  result. 

RULE  20. 

Pools  sold  shall  not  be  play  or  pay,  unless  so  declared  at  the 
timp. 


INDEX. 


A  PAGE. 

Age  to  Breed  from U 

Arabian  Blood 24 

Advice  to  an  Amateur S3 

Age  of  Horses 38 

B 

Bleeding 56,  57,  58 

Blistering 56 

Botts 58 

Broken  Knees 59 

Breeding 5 

Blindness 11 

Breeding  from  Pure  Blood 16 

Breeding  In  and  In 15 

Betting  Rules 108 

C 

Colic 56 

Cleaning  Horses 48' 

Canadian  Norman  Blood 20 

Curbed  Horses 88 

Constipation 58 

Cough 69 

Catarrh 68 

I> 

Diseases  of  Horses 54 

Dressing  the  Horse 48 

Defect  in  Sight 35 

Difference  between  Mules  and  Hinnies 30 

Distemper 58 

Diarrhoea 73 

Docking 77 


114  INDEX. 

E  PAGE. 

Exercise  for  Mare  in  Foal »T 11 

Examining  the  Lungs 35 

F 

Farcy 64 

Farcy,  Eemedies  for 64 

Food  for  Mare  in  Foal 14 

Founder 65 

Founder,  Remedies  for ; 65 

Farmers'  Horses 34 

G 

Gripes 72 

Gripes,  Remedies  for 72 

H 

How  to  Buy  a  Horse 83 

How  to  Feed  a  Horse 41 

How  to  Feed  Colts 42 

How  to  Feed  when  Traveling 45 

How  to  Break  Horses 49 

How  to  Work  a  Horse 52 

How  to  Shoe  a  Horse 80 

Handlmg  Colts 49 

How  to  Care  for  Sick  Animals 63 

How  to  Feed  Sick  Animals 63 

Homoepathy 59 

Hide  Bound 66 

Hide  Bound,  Remedies  for 66 

I 

Influenza 71 

Influenza,  Remedies  for 72 

Inflammation  of  the  Bowels 74 

Inflammation  of  the  Bowels,  Remedies  for 74 

Inflammation  of  the  Kidneys 75 

Inflammation  of  the  Brain 67 

Inflammation  of  the  Brain,  Remedies  for 67 

Inflammation  of  the  Lungs 70 

Inflammation  of  the  Lungs,  Remedies  for 70 

Indigestion 73 

Indigestion,  Remedies  for 73 

J 

Jockeying  Horses'  Teeth 34 

li 

Legs  and  Feet 37 

Light  for  Horses 46 


INDEX.  115 

KI  PAGE. 

Medicines  in  Balls 57 

Mange 64 

Mange,  Remedies  for 64 

Megrims 67 

Megrims,  Remedies  for 67 

Mules 29 

Mules,  How  to  Improve 32 

N 

Nitre 44 

Nicking 77 

P 

Pure  Norman 22 

Purgatives 57 

Ponies,  Indian 25 

Ponies,  Shetland 27 

Ponies,  Texan 26 

Pu  Ise 55 

S 

Sore  Throat 70 

Sore  Throat,  Remedies  for 70 

Strains 60 

Scratches 65 

Surgeons,  Veterinary 70| 

Stable,  The 46 

Stable,  Temperature  in 4^ 

T 

Thrush , eg 

Thrush,  Remedies  for 66 

W 

Water 44 

Whipping 51 

Worms 74 

Wounds,  Way  to  Treat 78 


INDEX  TO  EACING  RULES. 
■ ^-^*M 

PAGE. 

Accidents 97 

Age  of  Race  Horses .' 82 

Aids 96 

Allowance  of  Weigtit  in  Certain  Cases 88 

Arrears  Due  for  a  Horse 90 

A  Person  can  Claim  but  One  Horse 103 

A  Purse 82 

Auction  of,  Sales  by 102 

Bolting 9T 

Cases  Unprovided  for lOT 

Claim  of  Beaten  Horses ...102 

Closing,  Qualification  Dates  from  Time  of 86 

Closing,  Nominations  Not  to  be  Changed  After ." 87 

Committees,  Powers  of 107 

Course,  Persons  Expelled  from. 106 

Course,  Persons  Allowed  on 106 

Day,  Omissions  of 84 

Decorum 106 

Distances,  Omissions  of 84 

Distances 101 

Disqualification,  Effect  of 101 

Disqualification,  in  Case  of 103 

Disqualification  Fraudulent  Entry,  etc 86 

Disqualification,  Insufficient  Description 85 

Dress  and  Colors 84 

Employment  of  Riders  and  Grooms 105 

Engagements,  Liability  for 92 

Engagements,  Striking  out 91 

Entries 85 

Entries  in  Purses  not  Void  by  Death 89 

Failure  to  Deliver 103 

Fines,  Payment  of 107 

Forfeit  List 90 

Forfeit  List,  Horses  Appearing ■91 


INDEX.  117 

PAGE. 

Forfeit  List,  Persons  Appearing ". 91 

Forfeit  Paid 93 

Foul  Riding 97 

Handicap 83 

Heat,  Dead 100 

Heat,  Dividing  after  Dead 1 00 

Heat,  Dead  for  Second  Place 100 

Heat,  Horses  not  to  be  withdrawn 99 

Heat,  Rider  of 99 

Heat,  when  void —    98 

Heat,  Winner  of 99 

Heats,  Time  between 99 

Jockeys 105 

Nomination  of  Foreign  Horses 86 

Nomination  ^ot  required  to  be  made  Sunday 88 

Nomination  in  Stakes  In  event  of  Death 89 

Nomination  Suspected 92 

Names,  use  of  Fictitious 87 

Names  and  Numbers 93 

Objection 91 

Objections  to  Qualifications 104-105 

Prizes,  Value  of 104 

Riders  Falling. . . ; 95 

Riders,  Protection  of 106 

Races,  Selling 1^ 

Stake  Post 83 

Stakes,  respecting : 89 

Starter,  Power  of 96 

Starting 96 

Starting,  Order  of 84 

Starts,  False 97 

Sweepstakes 88 

Weight  before  and  after  Race 93 

Weight,  Extra 103 

Weight,  Feather 93 

Weight,  Omissions  of 84 

Weight,  Over 95 

Weight,  Welter 93 


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